Pakistan International Airlines - Achievements and Recognitions

Achievements and Recognitions

• First airline in the world to operate scheduled helicopter services.
• The first airline from an Asian land country and the first airline from a Muslim country to fly the Super Constellation.
• The first Asian airline to operate a jet aircraft.
• The first Asian airline to be granted maintenance approval by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Air Registration Board, predecessor of the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
• The first non-communist airline to fly to the People's Republic of China, and to operate a service between Asia and Europe via Moscow.
• The first airline in Asia to induct the new technology Boeing 737-300 aircraft.
• An IBM 1401, the first computer in Pakistan, was installed in PIA.
• The first airline to introduce a second route to People's Republic of China over the mighty Karakoram mountains.
• The first airline to show in-flight movies on international routes.
• PIA set up Pakistan's first planetarium at Karachi.
• The first airline in South Asia to introduce auto-ticketing facility.
• The first airline in the world to fly to Tashkent, capital of the newly independent state of Uzbekistan.
• First airline in the world to start Air Safari with jet aircraft.
• First Asian airline to start flights to Oslo.
• First airline in South Asia to offer the facility of seat reservation through mobile phone.
• First airline in Pakistan to operate a flight with an all female crew at command and in the cabin.
• PIA was given the first place award for the biggest volume increase in 2006, by Frankfurt Airport Authority.
• First airline in the world to induct and operate the Boeing 777-200ER, 777-200LR and 777-300ER together (all three variants available on the market).
• PIA was given three domestic awards in 2008: The "Brands of the Year" Award, "Consumers Choice Award" and "One The Best Airlines Award (Cargo)".
• PIA provided extensive support in the creation, development and management of Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines during their initial years of operation.
• PIA was awarded a shield by Presidency of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia in recognition of distinguished Passenger Services compared to other airlines conducting Hajj operations for the 3 consecutive years among 74 international airlines operating from the Hajj terminal in that country at Jeddah Airport.