PIA has nominated Adrian Hamilton as its CEO

According to Business Recorder, Adrian Hamilton Manns, who heads Oman's Salam Air, has been put forward as the upcoming chief executive of Pakistan International Airlines. Insiders said he is anticipated to assume the role before October closes. Formal confirmation is still pending, as security and other approvals remain under review.

The appointment would be among the earliest senior picks made since the carrier was transferred to private ownership. A consortium headed by Arif Habib assumed operational control of the airline on June 29, 2026.

Manns has headed Salam Air, a low-cost carrier based in Muscat, since July 2024. His earlier posts include leading Kazakhstan's Fly Arystan and founding flyafrica.com, along with commercial roles at IndiGo, South African Airways and others. Although he calls himself a turnaround specialist online, most of his recent work has involved launching or operating low-cost airlines, while PIA is a full-service carrier.