Pakistan International Airlines has nominated aviation executive Adrian Hamilton-Manns as the PIA new CEO, with the appointment still subject to security and other regulatory clearances. The New Zealand-born former chief of Oman’s SalamAir is expected to take charge by the end of October if those formalities are completed.
People familiar with the process have said the nomination has not been formally announced while clearances continue. The post is among the first major leadership picks since the carrier moved into private hands.
Who Hamilton-Manns is
Hamilton-Manns began his aviation career at Air New Zealand in 1997 and later held senior commercial roles at India’s IndiGo, South African Airways, Virgin Australia’s Pacific Blue and Indonesia’s Mandala Airlines. He holds a Bachelor of Aviation from Massey University and an MBA in tourism from the University of Cumbria.
He served as founding CEO of the Africa-focused low-fare carrier flyafrica.com from 2012 to 2016, then as president and CEO of Kazakhstan’s FlyArystan from April 2020 to July 2024. He led Muscat-based SalamAir from July 2024 until September 2026, after which Yaqoob Al Kiyumi took over as CEO there. On his professional networking profile he describes himself as an airline turnaround specialist.
Privatisation context and earlier CEO talks
An Arif Habib Corporation-led consortium took over PIA’s management on 29 June 2026 after the first financial closing of the privatisation. The new owners face pressure to improve financial performance, operational efficiency and competitiveness after years of losses, an ageing fleet and operational strain.
Before this nomination, the consortium had reportedly selected former Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam for the top job, but that appointment never materialised. In July 2026, Air India announced Gebremariam as its CEO, ending speculation about a move to PIA.
Hamilton-Manns’ career has centred on low-cost airlines, while PIA remains a full-service carrier with different service and cost structures. How that background shapes priorities for the national airline will depend on confirmation of the PIA new CEO role and any public management plan that follows.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 29 June 2026: An Arif Habib-led consortium assumed management control of PIA after the privatisation’s first financial closing.
- July 2026: Air India named Tewolde Gebremariam as its CEO, closing earlier talk of him joining PIA.
- July 2024–September 2026: Hamilton-Manns served as CEO of Oman’s SalamAir.
- October 2026 (expected): If clearances are completed, the nominated PIA new CEO could take charge by month-end.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PIA ne Adrian Hamilton-Manns ko naya CEO banane ke liye namzad kiya hai. Woh pehle Oman ki SalamAir chala chuke hain, aur ab security aur doosri clearances ka intezar hai. Agar sab theek raha to October ke akhir tak woh charge le sakte hain. Privatisation ke baad yeh airline ke liye ek bada leadership faisla hai, jo flights, service aur mali halaat behtar karne ki koshish se juda hai.
