About 18 local airlines have been allowed to operate in Pakistan in the near future, many of which will soon start their flights.
Following the issuance of a license to Fly Jinnah, a joint airline of local business group Lexon and Air Arabia Group of the United Arab Emirates, the company has completed preparations for its air operations and will begin its flights at the end of June.
The airline will initially start flights from Karachi and provide its service on various routes in Pakistan. Later it will also start international flights.
According to officials, besides Fly Jinnah, licenses have also been issued to Q Airways.
So far, 13 companies have been issued licenses for chartered flights in the tourism category.
According to the information available to Urdu News, Q Airways, licensed for regular passenger service, has been started by Ramada Hotels Group. The airline will initially launch flights to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
In addition, another private company has applied for a regular public transport license for Jet Green Airlines to the Civil Aviation Authority, whose approval is being reviewed.
Tourism Airlines
Four licenses have been issued to small airlines to promote tourism in Pakistan.
Companies that have so far obtained licenses for tourist flights will operate flights to different parts of the country.
Alvier Airways
Alvier Airways was licensed in the tourism sector last year. The company will initially operate flights from Islamabad and Karachi to Gwadar.
Aircraft
The aircraft sales and services company was the first to obtain a license for the category of tourist flights. The company has operated air services from Karachi to Gwadar and from Karachi to Monjo Daro and now operates tourist flights from Karachi to Gwadar.
North Air
North Air has obtained licenses for flights to Pakistan’s tourist destinations, especially the northern regions. However, no final announcement has been made about the launch of its flights.
Kashmir Air and Air Pakistan
Kashmir Air is the first helicopter service to promote tourism. It will provide service to tourists from Islamabad to tourist destinations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and northern areas.
Chartered flights operations
The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan has also issued licenses to 13 companies to operate chartered flights.
These companies include Aircraft Sales & Services, Hybrid Techniques, Pakistan Aviators & Aviation, Princely Jet, Vision Air, Air Falcon, Air Eagle, KT Airways and AHS Air International. In addition, the major airlines operating passenger flights, PIA, Airblue, Siren Air and Air Sial have also obtained licenses for chartered flights.
There are currently four airlines operating in the field of regular public air transport in Pakistan.
Apart from PIA, Pakistan’s national airline operates Air Blue, Syrian Air and Air Sial under regular public transport licenses.
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan’s state-owned airline PIA operates domestic and foreign air operations. PIA has the rights to conduct air operations for 19 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, Qatar, and Oman, while providing domestic air operations services in more than 20 cities domestically.
Air Blue
Pakistan’s private airline Air Blue is providing local flights to Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Multan, as well as international operations to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These include Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Riyadh.
Syrian Air
Syrian Air has also recently started international flights. Initially, Syrian Air started flights from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar, but now the international air operations include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Air fluid
Air Sial, an airline started by members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce, is conducting domestic air operations in Pakistan. The private company operates flights to Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Sialkot.