Pakistan’s low-cost airline Fly Jinnah may take off early next year-News

Arabian Airlines said on Friday that it has signed a joint venture agreement with Pakistan’s Lakson Group to open a new low-cost airline, Fly Jinnah, to serve the country’s 220 million people.

After obtaining all regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan, the new low-cost airline in Karachi is expected to take off early next year. According to aviation sources, it will serve domestic and international routes from major cities in Pakistan to the Gulf Cooperation Council and major destinations in the Middle East.

An announcement on Friday said: “The work to ensure the Airline Operations Certificate (AOC) for airlines to start operations will begin soon, and detailed information on the launch date, fleet and destination network will be announced in due course.”

Following SereneAir and Air Sial, Jinnah Air will become the latest entrant to Pakistan’s growing aviation market. Alvir Airways has also obtained a license to operate domestic flights in the country.

Pakistan International Airlines is the only listed airline in the country, and airblue is the oldest active airline in the private sector.

Jet Green Airline and Q-Airlines are also obtaining AOC certificates from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.

The statement said: “Fly Jinnah will serve the strategic vision of Pakistan’s travel and tourism industry, contributing to the country’s economic growth and job creation, while providing Pakistanis with reliable and value-for-money air travel.”

— Muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com

Muzaffar Rizvi

The business editor/news editor of Khaleej Times is a well-connected reporter and economic and financial commentator. Since 1997, he has been engaged in mainstream journalism, covering the UAE’s economy and key sectors. He has a graduate degree in economics and has won many awards for his true and insightful reports on global and regional business and economic trends.