PIA restores Airbus component support program to boost fleet reliability

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has successfully reinstated its long-dormant Airbus Component Support Program (CSP), a spokesperson for the national carrier said on Saturday.

According to the spokesperson’s statement , the move aimed at enhancing the maintenance and operational efficiency of the airline’s Airbus fleet. 

With the revival of the CSP, PIA will now have expedited access to essential Airbus components, ensuring timely maintenance and increased aircraft availability, the spokesperson said.

He added that this development is expected to significantly improve the reliability of PIA’s flight schedules and reduce operational disruptions. 

He was of the view that the CSP revival marks another step in PIA’s ongoing efforts to modernize its operations and optimize its resources as part of a broader strategy to regain its position as a leading airline.

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On Friday, PIA announced further expansion to its operational fleet with the induction of another long-grounded ATR aircraft, aiming to strengthen domestic operations.

PIA’s Chief Executive Officer said in a statement that the inclusion of the ATR aircraft is set to boost flight services to key destinations such as Gilgit, Sukkur, Turbat, and Gwadar. “This will reinforce our regional connectivity and improve passenger convenience.”

A week ealier, PIA inducted its 11th Airbus A320, registered as AP-BOM, into its operational fleet. The freshly painted and refurbished aircraft is equipped with new engines and upgraded interiors.

PIA executing the expansion plan following the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift the ban on the national flag carrier, allowing it to resume flights to Europe.

The PIA will resume flights to Europe on January 10, starting with Paris, after the EU aviation regulator lifted a ban on the national flag carrier.

The EASA and Britain suspended PIA’s permission to operate in the region after Pakistan began probing a scandal over the validity of pilots’ licences in the wake of a plane crash that killed 97 people.

The ban cost the loss-making airline Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in revenue.