Muhammad Aurangzeb Met Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson On UNGA Sidelines September 23 2026 Boeing To Share Revised Proposal For New Aircraft Acquisition With PIA Earlier Delivery Slots And Interim Leasing Arrangements To Be Explored
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 23, to discuss Pakistan International Airlines’ fleet modernisation and broader cooperation in Pakistan’s aviation sector. Business Recorder
Aurangzeb welcomed Boeing’s confirmation that a revised proposal for the acquisition of new aircraft would be shared with PIA, while options for earlier delivery slots and interim leasing arrangements would also be explored. The discussion covered financing support from the US Export-Import Bank, engine procurement, spare parts, maintenance and the restoration of grounded aircraft.
The finance minister outlined PIA’s privatisation progress and plans to outsource the management of major airports to the private sector. He appreciated Boeing’s ongoing support for aviation-safety capacity building and regulatory engagement, while underscoring Pakistan’s strong long-term aviation growth potential.
Aurangzeb also raised the importance of restoring PIA’s direct flights to the United States — a route suspended in 2020 following the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s temporary loss of Category 1 safety rating from the US Federal Aviation Administration. Restoration of direct access to the US market remains a priority for the national carrier.
The meeting marks a concrete step in Pakistan’s effort to rebuild its flag carrier. PIA’s fleet is among the most ageing in South Asia. Interim leasing options while awaiting new aircraft deliveries address the carrier’s most immediate operational constraint.
The privatisation is progressing. The fleet is next. Check out our previous coverage of Pakistan’s aviation sector on The Trusted Times.
