A 777 on Four Wheels? Inside One Superfan’s Mission to Celebrate His Favorite Airline

This article was originally published in Jetstream Magazine.

For many aviation enthusiasts, loyalty to an airline is shaped by childhood memories: a first flight, a favorite aircraft type, or a unique connection to one’s heritage. For Haseeb Khan, that loyalty runs deeper than nostalgia. It is more personal, inherited, and always worn proudly in his hometown of Toronto.

Family Ties

Haseeb’s passion for aviation began long before he started working at the airport. His father also worked at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and planespotting trips were a regular part of his childhood. Amidst the diverse traffic that Pearson received, Haseeb’s attention was drawn to one airline in particular: Pakistan International Airlines.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), once seen as the pride of Pakistan, has had a turbulent history. Once regarded among the world’s greatest airlines, the carrier’s reputation has suffered over the years at the hands of corruption and mismanagement. 

Despite these challenges, its history and legacy continue to hold special places in the hearts of many. For Haseeb, his emotional connection to PIA runs in the family. His grandfather, Sheikh Hameed Ahmed Rasheed – affectionately called “Dr. Rasheed” – had spent more than 25 years working for the airline, serving across multiple departments during some of its most formative decades. 

Dr. Rasheed

Dr. Rasheed was an Aeronautical Engineer by trade. His career began in Pakistan before taking him to the United Kingdom, where he worked for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). When Air Marshal Nur Khan was appointed to lead PIA, Dr. Rasheed was called back to Pakistan to join the national carrier. It was a pivotal era for PIA, one often remembered as its golden age as the airline grew into a global force.

Initially, Dr. Rasheed worked across PIA’s fleet as a Maintenance Engineer. From 1957 to 1978, he helped induct new aircraft such as the Boeing 720 and the Airbus A300, and addressed any issues with the aircraft as they entered service. In 1979, he transitioned into a managerial role with PIA’s Air Safety Department and later moved into a ground safety investigations role, where he conducted many investigations aligned with his expertise. His work wasn’t confined to PIA's base in Karachi; he also served at outstations abroad, including Damascus, Syria and Malta. Dr. Rasheed retired in the late 1980s, leaving behind a legacy tied closely to the airline’s rise.

While Haseeb never met his grandfather, the tangible connection came from the artifacts left behind: pictures, employee passes, log books, maintenance documents, badges, and countless other keepsakes from decades at PIA. Through those mementos, Haseeb formed a bond with an airline that had shaped his family’s history long before he was born.

The Road to the Ramp

Haseeb knew early on that his future would be in the aviation industry. When he was 13 years old, he started a YouTube channel, posting plane spotting videos and documenting his love for aviation. His first hands-on aviation job was as an aircraft detailer with Blue Sky Private Plane Company, an unglamorous but formative role that gave him close-up exposure to aircraft and operations. He later moved on to work as a ramp agent for Cargojet at Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport (YHM). With school, his schedule was demanding: 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. shifts on the ramp, followed by classes until 2 p.m. the next day. It was a test of endurance, but one Haseeb embraced, driven by his desire to be part of the industry.

In 2022, he joined ramp operations at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Within a month, he was promoted to ramp lead, working across multiple airlines and aircraft types. At just 20 years old, Haseeb remains the youngest ramp lead.

Haseeb is eager to keep multiple career pathways open within the aviation industry. While continuing to work as a ramp lead at Pearson, he is also pursuing a flight attendant and operations course.

Despite his growing experience across the industry, PIA remained at the center of his aspirations. It wasn’t just an airline he admired from afar; it was the airline he dreamed of working for one day.

That devotion would soon become impossible to miss.

A Boeing 777 on Four Wheels

Before he even purchased his first car, Haseeb secured a custom license plate: “PIA FAN.” When he finally bought a Toyota RAV4, the idea of turning his passion into something visible, something mobile, took shape. He wanted to take his fandom to the next level.

Working with a friend whose brother owned a printing shop, Haseeb designed a custom wrap inspired by PIA’s Boeing 777-200LR. The details were meticulous; the livery echoed the green-and-gold striped livery, with Haseeb going so far as to include the registrations AP-BGY and AP-BGZ, one on each side of the vehicle, fully inspired by the two 777-200LRs that frequented Toronto. Every dollar came out of his own pocket.

The result was striking. A PIA-themed “aircraft” on four wheels cruising through Toronto traffic was not something people expected to see. The car immediately drew attention, not just from passersby but from the airline itself. 

In 2023, PIA reposted images of the vehicle on its social media channels. The exposure brought Haseeb unexpected recognition, including local news coverage highlighting the uniquely themed car.

PIA Recognition

The attention was particularly notable given PIA’s reputation at the time. Despite the airline's criticism and operational challenges following years of mismanagement and corruption, Haseeb’s visible, unapologetic enthusiasm stood out. It wasn’t ironic or a paid promotion. It was sincere.

The airline’s response went beyond social media. PIA invited Haseeb to Pakistan to attend the Pakistan Travel Mart Expo in Karachi. For someone whose connection to the airline had long been personal and emotional, the gesture was deeply meaningful.

Encouraged by the response, Haseeb continued refining the concept. He later updated the car to reflect PIA’s new branding and added a timeline graphic showcasing the airline’s fleet progression, listing aircraft types alongside the years they were inducted. 

Passion, Not Promotion

Wherever Haseeb goes, the reaction is the same. People stop, stare, ask questions, and take photos. The car sparks conversations with aviation enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike, turning everyday errands into opportunities to talk about aviation, heritage, and PIA’s legacy.

However, not everyone has been supportive. Given PIA's reputation, Haseeb has faced his share of skepticism. Some have assumed his enthusiasm must be incentivized, that he’s been paid or has received benefits in exchange for his loyalty. Haseeb is quick to push back on that narrative. He insists his devotion is genuine, rooted in family history and personal passion, not compensation.

“It’s a way to show appreciation to not just the airline of where my family comes from, but also a way to honor all the work that my grandfather did for PIA. It wasn’t easy for him, leaving a well-established position in the United Kingdom and going back to Pakistan, yet still contributing so much to PIA. This is the least I can do,” Haseeb said.

In Toronto, Haseeb has become known as "PIA’s Brand Ambassador," though the title is unofficial. There is no contract and no formal responsibilities; instead, it’s a role defined by visibility and passion. Through his car, his online presence, and his conversations, he promotes PIA organically across Toronto and even broader North America.

The Future

Looking ahead, Haseeb remains optimistic about PIA’s future, particularly amid the airline’s ongoing privatization. In December 2025, the Pakistani government sold a 75% stake in the national flag carrier to the Arif Habib Group for $482 million. The Group gained control of PIA’s operations and assets while the government maintained 25% ownership and assumed most legacy debt. While exciting, Haseeb acknowledges that PIA’s recovery will take time. Regardless, he is confident that the airline can return to its former stature, especially considering the Arif Habib Group's plans to preserve and grow the beloved PIA brand.

As for his own future, Haseeb hopes his passion will one day bring him full circle. If an opportunity arises in Canada or the United States, he would love to work for PIA, particularly in ground operations, air safety, or management. It would be a continuation of a family legacy, one that began decades ago on the engineering floors of a rising national airline.

For now, his tribute drives on, turning heads and starting conversations wherever it goes. It serves as a reminder that for some, airlines are living legacies, carried forward by those who refuse to let their stories fade.