AlainDurand
PIA/Pakistan International Airlines, Boeing 737-340, AP-BCA, Chitral, Pakistan
First in Asia to operate the popular 737-300, PIA took up 6 aircrafts in 1985/86 starting with Charlie-Alpha. They replaced the Boeing 720Bs on the domestic routes.
In early 2006 the airline launched four new tail esigns for its fleet. The tails represented the four provinces of Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab, North-West Frontier Province and Balochistan. The tails promote the cultures of the four provinces of Pakistan by applying motifs to the tails and adding a city name to the rear of the fuselage corresponding to the province. The "Frontier" tail as painted on AP-BCA represents the "Phulkari" (flowering) pattern that reflected a tradition of embroidery generally done on shawls, shirts and linen.
In 2008 management stopped the application of provincial tails deeming them too costly and decided to restore the flag tail design introduced on the first Boeing 777 in 2003. Since April 2009, A310s (AP-BEB and BEU) have been repainted with the flag, it is not known whether remaining fleet with get them, as some aircraft are carrying on with province designs despite having undergone heavy maintenance where the entire aircraft is repainted.
PIA/Pakistan International Airlines, Boeing 737-340, AP-BCA, Chitral, Pakistan
First in Asia to operate the popular 737-300, PIA took up 6 aircrafts in 1985/86 starting with Charlie-Alpha. They replaced the Boeing 720Bs on the domestic routes.
In early 2006 the airline launched four new tail esigns for its fleet. The tails represented the four provinces of Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab, North-West Frontier Province and Balochistan. The tails promote the cultures of the four provinces of Pakistan by applying motifs to the tails and adding a city name to the rear of the fuselage corresponding to the province. The "Frontier" tail as painted on AP-BCA represents the "Phulkari" (flowering) pattern that reflected a tradition of embroidery generally done on shawls, shirts and linen.
In 2008 management stopped the application of provincial tails deeming them too costly and decided to restore the flag tail design introduced on the first Boeing 777 in 2003. Since April 2009, A310s (AP-BEB and BEU) have been repainted with the flag, it is not known whether remaining fleet with get them, as some aircraft are carrying on with province designs despite having undergone heavy maintenance where the entire aircraft is repainted.