Air Karachi Requests License for Commercial Operations

KARACHI: Air Karachi, a newly established airline, has applied to the aviation regulator for a commercial license as an RPT operator, aiming to commence passenger and cargo services on both domestic and international routes.

According to sources, in September of the previous year, three local airlines Jet Green, Q Airways, and Go Green Air submitted requests to the PCAA for licenses and permits.

In a letter sent to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the management formally applied for an RPT license and included a comprehensive business plan and other necessary documentation as per the regulations.

“We aim to operate as a Regular Public Transport (RPT) Operator, providing scheduled passenger and cargo services on domestic and international routes. “We plan to do this with the permission that CAA Pakistan will give us,” the letter said.

The statement continued, “The management team at Air Karachi brings extensive experience in the aviation sector in Pakistan and is fully equipped to mobilize the necessary resources and personnel to launch this venture. We commend the implementation of the National Aviation Policy 2023, which encourages a liberal operating framework, creating a level playing field. and facilitates the entry of new stakeholders into the aviation business”.

The business community in Karachi had previously revealed plans to launch a new airline.

Hanif Gohar, a prominent businessman, shared that Air Karachi will kick off operations with an initial investment of Rs 5 billion, with each shareholder contributing Rs 50 million.

Air Karachi has appointed retired Air Vice Marshal Imran, the former Southern Commander, as its CEO. The airline intends to lease three aircraft in its first phase of operations.

Notable shareholders of Air Karachi include Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, Arif Habib, SM Tanveer, Bashir Jan Muhammad, Khalid Tawab, Zubair Tufail, and Hamza Tabani.

The newly formed airline called AU Karachi (Private) Limited was established by an esteemed Karachi-based business group. After the government’s failed attempts to privatize Pakistan International Airline (PIA) last year, a Karachi-based business registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in November 2024 stated its intention to take advantage of the aviation industry’s promising opportunities.