KARACHI: (DNA) –  Pakistan International Airline (PIA) is planning to induct four new aircraft in its fleet, president and CEO of the national flag carrier Air Marshal Arshad Malik said on Wednesday.

Addressing the PIA employees during a ceremony at the airline’s head office, Malik said the fleet enhancement plan is already in progress and soon the airline will expand its network and increase its access across the world.

He said ever since he joined PIA, his objective was to make it the leading airline with collective wisdom and efforts, adding that he was optimistic about positive results due to great potential the airline possesses to rise.

PIA has added 18 aircraft to its fleet in four years

“We will strictly go according to route rationalisation policy and new viable routes will be introduced,” Air Marshal Arshad Malik said. “We have already started Sialkot-Sharjah and Lahore-Muscat flights and the results are very encouraging. Very soon we are going to launch flights on Sialkot- Barcelona and Lahore-Bangkok sectors,” he added.

Urging all PIA employees to work together as a team, Air Marshal Malik said that he was well aware of the problems being faced by the employees in particular, the low salary structure of employees of lower cadre. As soon as the airline comes out of the financial constraints, salaries of all employees would be revised, he assured all.

The PIA chief instructed the employees to work for the betterment of the airline without compromising on service standards, adding that he would personally visit each and every department to discuss the issues with employees.

Stressing upon the need to maintain merit in every sphere of the airline, he said, “Merit shall prevail in PIA with regards to promotions.” Air Marshal Malik thanked the employees associations and Union CBA for their valuable support and urged them to continue contributing towards betterment of the national flag carrier.