Pakistan’s newest private airline, South Air, has confirmed that it will launch its first commercial domestic passenger flight on July 16, 2026, operating on the Karachi–Bahawalpur–Islamabad route.
The airline opened ticket bookings on July 10, allowing passengers to reserve seats ahead of its inaugural service.
According to the airline, the first commercial flight will be operated using an ATR 72 turboprop aircraft, which is widely used for regional routes and is well-suited for airports with shorter runways.
South Air aims to improve domestic air connectivity by serving regional destinations, particularly cities with limited flight options. The airline has also announced plans to expand its network to additional destinations across Pakistan.
Before launching commercial operations, South Air successfully conducted a trial flight from Karachi to New Gwadar International Airport in May as part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s certification process. Following the successful test flight and regulatory inspections, the airline received the necessary approvals to begin scheduled domestic services.
The launch of South Air’s first commercial flight is expected to increase competition in Pakistan’s domestic aviation sector while providing travelers with more regional connectivity options.
