Karachi’s business community announced the Air Karachi airline launch, which is set to take off. Businessman Hanif Gohar revealed that Air Karachi is now officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The company has also applied for a license from the federal government.
Initially, Air Karachi plans to lease three aircraft, with retired Air Vice Marshal Imran, formerly of the Southern Command, taking on the role of CEO. Hanif Gohar shared that the project is kicking off with an investment of Rs 5 billion, with each shareholder pitching in Rs 50 million.
September 2024 saw a surge in new airlines aiming to start operations in various Pakistani cities, noted the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Among them are Jet Green, Q Airways, and Go Green Air, which have all approached the CAA for licenses and permits. Air Indus also expressed interest in resuming operations, while Q Aviation and Liberty Air have applied for permits to launch in Pakistan.
CAA officials highlighted that this influx of license applications is a positive sign for the economy. The introduction of new airlines like Air Karachi will not only provide passengers with more travel options but also boost foreign exchange in the aviation sector and create new jobs.
Currently, three private airlines—Airblue, SereneAir, and AirSial—are operating in Pakistan. Meanwhile, the CAA’s report from July to December 2023 shows that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ranked fourth in performance, with an 89.32 percent departure and arrival ratio, pointing to areas where they can still improve.
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