Pakistan international airlines have sold the controversial Airbus A310 to Leipzig Halle Airport (not a museum). The plane was part of a huge controversy that was created to oust the German CEO, Bernd Hildenbrand. An ill-informed government minister even blamed the former CEO of taking the plane with him. But now it has emerged that PIA has finally got rid of the plane. PIA issued a tender for the sale of the said plane on 19 January 2018. After that two companies were shortlisted for the sale.
The engines of Airbus A310 registration AP-BEQ were sold separately to Turkish cargo company ULS Airlincargo and the body was purchased by the Liepzing airport. The plane was allowed to fly to Malta from Karachi where it took part in the filming of a movie. From Malta, it was sent to Leipzig Halle Airport as part of a deal.
According to the information available with Pakistan Aviation the said deal was struck between PIA and Leipzig Halle airport as PIA was planning to re-route its New York flights via Leipzig. The controversy brought disrepute to PIA and most of that was based on baseless misinformation.
It is important to mention that PIA had a fleet of 12 Airbus A310s and out of the 12 PIA scrapped 3 aircraft. It has not managed to sell anyone of the aircraft parked at Karachi airport despite repeated adverts in national and international media. The only achievement was the sale of 5 engines for 270 million rupees in December 2017. Despite all the lies about the price of the plane and suggested value, PIA cannot dispose of the Airbus A310s. And their future seems to be scrapyard as well.