The director general of the Civil Aviation Authority has announced that a private airlines will commence operations to several smaller cities starting next year in a significant development for air travel in Pakistan.
The new air services will begin in the second quarter of 2025 and will include flights to cities such as Sukkur, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Gwadar.
DG Nader Shafi exclusively told Samaa TV that this expansion will facilitate travel between primary and secondary airports, making air travel more accessible for citizens living in these regions.
He further said that the airline plans to operate with a minimum of three small planes, each capable of accommodating 40 to 50 passengers. This move comes in response to the substantial demand for travel, as approximately 30 million passengers currently rely on buses, trains, and other vehicles to travel between the northern and southern regions of Pakistan each year, he added.
Shafi further noted that reasonable fare pricing on these new routes could prove highly profitable for the airline while providing travellers with a faster and more comfortable means of transportation. The DG expressed optimism that the new flights will greatly benefit local economies and improve connectivity for residents of smaller cities.
