The director general of the Civil Aviation Authority(CAA) has announced that private airlines will commence their services in several smaller cities starting next year in a major development for air transport in Pakistan.
This initiative aims to enhance the transport of passengers who at the moment use buses, trains, and cars in the long-distance transport between the North and the South of the country.
These new air services will begin in the second quarter of the year 2025 and will connect PIA to Sukkur, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Gwadar.
In his press conference on Monday, Director General of the CAA Nadir Shafi Dar discussed several issues related to aviation in Pakistan. He said this will enable connectivity between the primary and secondary airports bringing the accessibility of air travel closer to the citizens living in the northern and southern areas of the country.
Dar also said that the airline will commence operations with at least three small planes, each with the capacity to carry 40 to 50 passengers by early 2025. This measure was made in view of the fact that there is significant demand for mobility, as daily 30 million passengers use buses, trains, and other means of transport to move between the northern and southern parts of Pakistan, he said.
Dar said that airports in the less developed cities such as Sukkur, Multan, Faisalabad, and Sialkot as well as in the areas of Gwadar, Gilgit, and Skardu would soon provide regular air services.
He also said that the establishment of such routes could be very profitable to the airline while still offering the passengers a faster and more comfortable means of transport if the fares are well set.
The DG expressed that he expects more airlines to follow this move and increase air access for primary and secondary airports throughout the nation.
“Currently, about 30 million passengers travel from the North to the South annually by bus, train, or car. If the airline sets reasonable fares, this route could become commercially viable,” said Dar.
He also informed about the current status of PIA by stating that an audit of all national airline aircraft has been conducted after several problems with technical landings and other mishaps.
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