Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has selected Tewolde Gebremariam, the highly regarded former Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new CEO. The appointment marks a major strategic step for the newly privatized national carrier as its new owners seek to execute an ambitious corporate turnaround. While the official announcement is awaiting mandatory security clearances, senior airline officials and major shareholders have confirmed that Gebremariam has been chosen to take the helm due to his exceptional track record in global aviation management.

Gebremariam brings nearly four decades of industry experience to the struggling Pakistani airline. During his 11-year tenure leading Ethiopian Airlines before stepping down in 2022, he transformed the carrier into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline. Under his leadership, the fleet grew from 33 to 130 aircraft, annual passenger numbers quadrupled to 12 million, and revenues surged from $1 billion to $4.5 billion. The new leadership at PIA hopes Gebremariam can replicate this dramatic growth and guide the carrier out of years of deep financial losses.

This high-profile hiring follows the landmark privatization of PIA, which recently saw management control officially transferred to a private consortium led by the Arif Habib Corporation. The consortium, which secured a 75% controlling stake in the airline for Rs 135 billion and is moving toward full ownership, has committed a total investment of Rs 180 billion ($643 million). Under the initial closing of the deal, the new owners injected Rs 80 billion ($288 million) in fresh equity directly into the airline to stabilize its finances, fund urgent fleet expansion, modernize operations, and reopen commercially vital international flight routes.