Pakistan's private airline AirBlue starts operationg flights to Gwadar
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk

KARACHI: The people of emerging port City of Gwadar got another good option to travel to Karachi with the commencement of operation on this socio-economic route by AirBlue, Pakistan's popular and fast developing private sector airline.

AirBlue started its operation to Gwadar with a 19-seater Beechcraft with its maiden flight ED 702 landing at Gwadar Airport on Saturday morning with full passenger load. Gwadar became the seventh destination of this fast growing airline.

On board the inaugural flight were Jalal Shah, Regional Director South, CAA, Air Commodore (Rtd) Munawar Siddiqui, Chairman JS Air, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Operating Officer Airblue and others.

The inaugural flight was received at Gwadar by officials of local administration including Ahmed Bux Zehri, DG Gwadar Development Authority, Civil Aviation and Airport Security Force.

The DG GDA congratulated AirBlue on introducing flights to Gawadar and said its operation would prove value-added for traveling public.

Zehri hoped that AirBlue will soon introduce more international flights for people of Gawadar, especially catering to those who wish to travel to UAE and UK and had limited options today.

CAA's Regional Director (South), Jalal Shah, complimented AirBlue for introducing flights to Gawadar and contributing to the development of the area.

He said CAA was more concerned to have best facilities for air travelers to and from Gawadar and, therefore, it was expanding the existing airport to provide more convenient and comfortable facilities and also keep pace with the growth of air travellers.

A new airport was also being planned for Gwadar in the near future, he added.

Earlier, Chief Operating Officer Airblie, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi pointed out that the airline launched Gawadar operation to meet the needs of Pakistan's fastest growing port city now with a population of over one lac and a strong business base registering constant economic growth.

He said the airline has chartered two Beechcraft from JS Air to operate on socio-economic routes.

Initially it will operate 6 flights a week to Gawadar and back and flight frequency would soon be increased with addition of second daily flight to Gawadar and other socio-economic routes.

On domestic route, AirBlue now operates three daily flights each to Islamabad and Lahore, one daily flight each to Peshawar and Faisalabad and 6 Flights a week to Gwadar.

On the International sector, the airline is operating one daily flight each from Karachi and Lahore, three flights a week from Islamabad and four flights a week from Peshawar to Dubai.●