KARACHI - After purchasing the very first jet aircraft, the de Havilland DH.106 Comet, in May 1959, Pakistan Indus Airways has received the very first trijet. The Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident (originally developed as the de Havilland DH.121) has arrived in Karachi. Currently, the aircraft is being tested for suitability within the Pakistan Indus Airways fleet. If the engineers are happy with the performance, the Pakistani flag carrier will order a large fleet of the improved Trident 1C variant.
Pakistan Indus Airways is also looking at the twinjet regional aircrafg developed by the newly formed British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). This aircraft is developed from the Hunting 107 and the Vickers VC11 projects, both which Pakistan Indus Airways contributed with technical and operational knowledge. While being happy with the Vickers Viscount turboprop fleet, the CEO told the press that the aircraft are getting older and need to be replaced in the (near) future. It is however still unknown if the airline will choose a turboprop or jet replacement.