The government of Pakistan is planning to establish a new airline to operate alongside PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International) sources have informed The Express Tribune newspaper.
According to the report, Islamabad plans to have the yet-to-be-named airline up and running within 120 days. Though a wholly government-owned entity, the airline's management will be able to act autonomously. Operationally, it will wet-lease aircraft for domestic and international flights while up to 600 staff will be recruited through third-party contractors.
The carrier will operate alongside PIA which is now slated to be privatized by the end of July. Airline employees began a seven day-long strike in early January in protest at retrenchments that are likely to accompany the firm's partial removal from state hands.
