An official from Pakistan International Airlines told a government privatization committee that US President Donald Trump is interested in taking over the airline’s hotel in Manhattan.
The struggling airline owns the Roosevelt Hotel via subsidiary PIA Investment Limited.
PIA Investment Limited managing director Najeeb Sami told government officials that Trump ‘is still showing interest in the Roosevelt.’
The 1,000 room property is one of the NYC’s most iconic hotels and has mostly been profitable for the airline since it bought it in 1999.
The committee heard that Trump has long shown an interest in the hotel.
Pakistan’s privatisation minister Muhammad Mian Soomro said the government has no intention of selling the hotel it paid $36 million for more than 20 years ago.
However it does want to lease it out or form a joint venture with a private operator.
The hotel has been managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts for many years.
The privatization commission is looking at the best way forward to privatising the beleaguered airline, which is currently banned from several countries due to a widespread fake pilot license scandal.
By Ray Montgomery, US editor
