Super-sized airliners could be a regular sight over the skies of West Yorkshire if plans to introduce the Boeing 777 to Leeds- Bradford International Airport (LBIA) get the go ahead.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has confirmed that it is planning to introduce the jet for its twice-weekly run to Islamabad and did not rule out expansion plans in the future.
Known as the Triple Seven, it is the world’s largest twin-engine aircraft and has twice the passenger capacity of any of the aircraft operating from the Yeadon airport.
The wide-body ‘jumbo’ can carry 440 passengers. The largest aircraft that operates out of LBIA, the Airbus A310, can only take up to 220 passengers.
The Airbus A310 also pales in comparison in its dimensions with a wingspan of 44 metres and an overall length of 47 metres compared to the 777’s 61 metres and 64 metres respectively.
Originally, the introduction had been planned for September but plans were put back.
Mansoon Mela, UK and Ireland manager for PIA, said: “At the moment all our planes are taken up with the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. Instead we are aiming for the summer schedule in April.”
- Read more on this story in today's T&A
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