Low Cost Carriers of Pakistan
Contents
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pakistan’s LCC background
Airblue
Shaheen air
Bhoja airline (not in operation)
Air Indus (future airline)
Recommendations
Background of Pakistan's LCCs
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline (also
known as a no-frills, discount or budget carrier
or airline) is an airline that offers generally low
fares in exchange for eliminating many
traditional passenger services.
• The Orient airways were the first airlines to
start operations in Pakistan .
• In 1955 it merged with the government
airlines to become Pakistan International
Airlines.
History of Pakistan’s airline
• PIA remained the only operator for many years
after its creation, but soon private airlines arrived
at the scene to compete with the national flag
carrier as conditions of the country stabilized.
• It was not early nineties there was a major
growth in the Pakistani aviation market with four
new private airlines launching operations. The
airline did very well to compete with the well
established flag carrier, PIA which was controlled
by the government.
Cont…
• However, this was not to last as the UN placed
economic sanctions on Pakistan that caused
the airline market to suffer. It caused two of
the four airlines to file for bankruptcy and
liquidate their assets.
• The airline industry remained quite stable
with PIA developing a strong hold on the
international and domestic market for many
years
• It was not until the early 21st century that the
industry started to pick up again that allowed the
entry of a new carrier in the market, Airblue
which launched operations with new state of the
art aircraft.
• As of August 2007, the aviation market is
developing and allowing more services and
facilities to be inaugurated as well as the
development of a brand new airport to be built
for the capital at Fateh Jang.
Defunct airlines:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Aero Asia International
Hajvairy Airlines
JS Air
Orient Airways
Pak Airways
Raji Airlines
Safe Air
Star Air Aviation
LCC in Pakistan
• Airblue
• Bhoja Air (currently not operating)
• Shaheen Air
• Starting in 2004, airblue's fleet of next-generation
Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft began offering worldclass travel to many cities within Pakistan
• Airblue Limited (airblue) is a private airline with its
head office on the 12th floor of ISE in Islamabad
• It is Pakistan's second largest airline with over 20%
share of the domestic market
• Its main base is Jinnah International Airport, Karachi
• Airblue operates scheduled flights operating
30 daily services linking four domestic
destinations
Islamabad
Lahore
Karachi
Peshawar
• With international services to:
 Dubai
 Abu Dhabi
 Sharjah
 Muscat
 Istanbul
 Manchester
• Its main base is Jinnah International Airport,
Karachi.
History
• Established in 2003 & started ops in 2004 with 03 leased A320-200
• Inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan
• During the first year the airline became very popular, which allowed the
airline to compete with PIA & 02 other private carriers, flying more than
400,000 passengers with a load factor of over 90%
• Allowed airline to expand to Psh, Qta & N’shah
• In 2005, launched its first international flight from Karachi to Dubai
• In 2007, launched its flight to manchester, England with A321
History
• Changed its IATA code from ED to PA in 2012 (previously belonged to PanAm World
Airways)
• As of June 2012, finalised agreement to acquire 01 A320 & 02 leased Airbus A340300s
• Looking for turboprop A/C for new domestic routes
• A320 would provide flexibility in schedule while A340s would strengthen its Europe
and ME routes
• Currently operates a mixture of Airbus A320 & A319s
Services
Services
Cabin
• All A/C are in 3X3 economy layout
• Airline dropped its Business class (2x2, TV, Leather seating, Digital cockpit)
E-ticketing
• First airline in pakistan to introduce e-ticketing, wireless check-in and self check-in
kiosk facilities at Kch & LHR
• Member of Sabre Sys used by over a hundred airlines for ticket automation service
Frequent flyer program
• Frequent flyer program is called Blue Miles
• Passengers initially start on base level where sign up is free. Once passengers earn
enough miles, there are upgrades to the Blue Card followed by the Platinum Card
• In 2009, formed alliance with Faysal Bank Limited to launch summer promotion on
credit cards
Lounges
• Airblue inaugurated its premium lounge at Karachi in 2008 (Blue Lounge
International, designed for business class passengers, credit card holders and privileged
customers)
• Lounge offers Internet facilities, cable TV, newspapers/magazines, massage
chairs,snack bar. (Not operational anymore)
• Dnata company handles the ground and passenger handling at all airports
• Gate Gourmet provides food and beverage services to the airline.
Cost-cutting measures
• Converted their fleet to all economy class
• Replaced its full meal services with snacks on domestic flights.
• Did away with chinaware crockery service with plasticware
Cargo operations
• Launched e-Cargo service for air freight markets of Pakistan, UAE and UK.
• e-Cargo will broaden the base of cargo and permit certified agents to book
freight directly online opening the inventory through Web.
Destinations
Airblue serves the following destinations as of 2013
Oman
• Muscat
Pakistan
• Islamabad Focus City
• Karachi Hub
• Lahore Focus City
• Nawabshah
• Peshawar • Quetta
United Arab Emirates
• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai
• Sharjah
United Kingdom
• Manchester
• Airblue previously served Faisalabad and
Gwadar also
Route structure
Network expansion
• Intends to expand ops to destinations in Europe,
China, and ME
• Plan to start a Mumbai-Karachi air route.(only PIA
with 12 flights a week
Aircrafts
In Fleet
Orders
Airbus A319-100
4
0
Airbus A320-200
2
0
Airbus A340-300
1
1
Total
7
1
• Head office at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi
• Provides passenger, cargo and charter services
• Established in 1994 & accorded status of 'Second National Carrier of
Pakistan', by the govt.
• Besides
serving
major
domestic
routes
i.e. Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, Shaheen Air has also been
operating flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi,Al Ain, Kuwait, Doha and Muscat from
almost all the major international gateways of Pakistan
• Today it has about fifteen aero planes and is one of the fast growing airlines
• Opening flights for Dammam
Services
In cabin
• Operates a fleet of Boeing 737-200/400 & Airbus 330-300 aircraft.
• Boeing 737s are in economy class layout with capacity of 125 & 169
passengers respectively
• The A330-300 feature a mixed Business and Economy cabin
Newspapers and magazines
• Publishes own in-house inflight magazine called Parwaz (Flight)
• Opportunity to choose Urdu and English newspapers and magazines on all
domestic and international flights
Services
Ground handling
• Shaheen Airport Services (SAPS) took exclusive ground handling operations
in 2009 for all airports within Pakistan.
• Dnata signed a contract with the airline to provide any additional services
to the airline for all airports outside Pakistan.
E-Ticketing
• Passengers can pre-book any flight on the airline's website to any domestic
route operated by the airline. Passengers can book online and pay at their
nearest booking office. The passenger will be given an e-ticket instead of the
standard paper booking ticket.
Services
E-Check-in
• Passengers check-in between 180 to 45 minutes prior to flight departure. This may
be done over the counter or at the lounge within the airport. Self-service kiosks are
also available at KCH. Passengers will automatically be given a computer generated
booking number and assigned baggage tag
Hajj services
• Shaheen Air is first and only Pakistani private airline to have been approved
to operate HAJJ flights which commenced in 2011, using its own as well as
leased aircraft
Services
Cargo Operations
• Shaheen Air Cargo was established in 1993
• Provides special services for sending small consignments which are time sensitive in
nature.
• Other services include: Perishable Cargo, Live Animals, Valuable Cargo, Special
Cargo as well as Courier Services
City
Kuwait City
Lahore
Mashad
Multan
Country
Kuwait
Pakistan
Iran
Pakistan
IATA
KWI
LHE
MHD
MUX
ICAO
OKBK
OPLA
OIMM
OPMT
Airport
City
Country
IATA
ICAO
Kuwait International Airport
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
AUH
OMAA
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Al Ain
United Arab Emirates
AAN
OMAL
Al Ain International Airport
Damman
Saudi Arabia
DMM
OEDF
King Fahad International Airport
Pakistan
DEA
OPDG
Allama Iqbal International Airport
Mashhad International Airport
Multan International Airport
[7]
Dera Ghazi Khan ^
Dera Ghazi Khan International
[begins 28 October 2012]
Muscat
Peshawar
Oman
Pakistan
MCT
PEW
OOMS
OPPS
Airport
Muscat International Airport
Airport
Doha
Qatar
DOH
OTBD
Doha International Airport
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
DXB
OMDB
Dubai International Airport
Pakistan
LYP
OPFA
Faisalabad International Airport
Islamabad
Pakistan
ISB
OPRN
Benazir Bhutto International Airport
Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
JED
OEJN
King Abdulaziz International Airport
Karachi
Pakistan
KHI
OPKC
Jinnah International Airport
Bacha Khan International Airport
Faisalabad
[6]
†
Quetta ^
Pakistan
UET
OPQT
Quetta International Airport
[resumes 15 November 2012]
Sharjah
United Arab Emirates
SHJ
OMSJ
Sharjah International Airport
Sialkot
Pakistan
SKT
OPST
Sialkot International Airport
Sukkur
Pakistan
SKZ
OPSK
Sukkur Airport
†
[Base]
Destinations
City
Abu Dhabi
Al Ain
Country
United Arab
Emirates
United Arab
Emirates
IATA
ICAO
AUH
OMAA
AAN
OMAL
Damman
Saudi Arabia
DMM
OEDF
Dera Ghazi Khan
Pakistan
DEA
OPDG
Doha
Qatar
DOH
OTBD
Dubai
United Arab
Emirates
DXB
OMDB
Faisalabad
Pakistan
LYP
OPFA
Islamabad
Pakistan
ISB
OPRN
Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
JED
OEJN
Karachi
Pakistan
KHI
OPKC
Airport
Abu Dhabi
International Airport
Al Ain International
Airport
King Fahad
International Airport
Dera Ghazi Khan
International Airport
Doha International
Airport
Dubai International
Airport
Faisalabad
International Airport †
Benazir Bhutto
International Airport
King Abdulaziz
International Airport
Jinnah International
Airport [Base]
City
Country
IATA
ICAO
Airport
Kuwait City
Kuwait
KWI
OKBK
Kuwait International
Airport
Lahore
Pakistan
LHE
OPLA
Allama Iqbal
International Airport
Mashad
Iran
MHD
OIMM
Mashhad International
Airport
Multan
Pakistan
MUX
OPMT
Multan International
Airport
Muscat
Oman
MCT
OOMS
Muscat International
Airport
Peshawar
Pakistan
PEW
OPPS
Bacha Khan
International Airport
Quetta
Pakistan
UET
OPQT
Quetta International
Airport
Sharjah
United Arab
Emirates
SHJ
OMSJ
Sharjah International
Airport
Sialkot
Pakistan
SKT
OPST
Sialkot International
Airport
Sukkur
Pakistan
SKZ
OPSK
Sukkur Airport †
Fleet
As of September 2012, Fleet consists of the following aircraft's:
• 03 Airbus A330-300 (due by late-December 2012)
• 08 Boeing 737-400 (four ex-Malaysia Airlines aircraft)
• 02 Boeing 737–800 (Both aircraft operated by Midwest Airlines)
• 02 Boeing 767-200 (operated by Jordan Aviation)
Destinations
• Bhoja Air (Bhoja Airlines (Pvt) Ltd), is based in KCH
• Operates small domestic scheduled network.
• Ceased ops in 2000 due financial difficulties, after clearing its dues
with CAA, it was relaunched in 2011 with inaugural flight on 6
March 2012.
• After 20 April 2012 accident, Bhoja Air fleet size was reduced to
one airplane and according to Pakistani law airline must have at
least three planes in operation.
• On 29 May 2012, MOD temporarily imposed ban on operations
History
• In 1993, Bhoja Air started ops on domestic routes between Karachi,
Lahore and Quetta with leased Boeing 737-200.
• Its head office is at Shahrah–e-Liaquat, Karachi and corporate
offices at KDA Scheme No 1.
• In 1996, it signed a deal with the handling agent group OGDENS
• In 1998, commenced international flights from Karachi to Dubai.
• Later, operated flights to the U.A.E from all major cities of Pakistan.
• Bhoja had plans to resume operation by mid August with the
assistance of a foreign airline but are now said to have terminated
all staff and crew till further notice.
Destinations
•





As of December 2012,
Islamabad
Karachi - Hub
Lahore Multan
Bhoja also planned on launching another domestic station Sukkur
Bhoja Fleets
Aircraft
Boeing 737-200
Total
In Fleet
Orders
1
2
1
2
Notes
(Future Airline)
• Proposed airline of Pakistan with its headquarters based in kCH
• Air Indus is proposing to serve over 14 domestic destinations with plans to
expand its network to international destinations covering Asia, Europe and
North America.
• Air Indus will establish its hub in Karachi - Jinnah International Airport with
focus cities at Islamabad - Benazir Bhutto International Airport and Lahore
- Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Planned destinations
Depart
Arrive
Frequency
Karachi
Islamabad
21 Flights/week
Islamabad
Karachi
21 flights/week
Karachi
Lahore
14 flights/week
Lahore
Karachi
14 flights/week
Karachi
Peshawar
7 flights/week
Peshawar
Karachi
7 flights/week
Karachi
Quetta
7 flights/week
Quetta
Karachi
7 flights/week
Karachi
Multan
7 flights/week
Multan
Karachi
7 flights/week
Reservations
• Air Indus has a web based Airline Reservation System which allows
passengers to make and manage their booking via the internet and
through travel agents.
Operation
• Quick turnaround
• Point-to-point,no transfers
• Higher seat capacity per aircraft
Reservations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Single class
No frills
Extras at charge
No lounges
Re-usable boarding passes
Web check-in etc
Distribution
• Direct sales channels
• Travel agencies only if no extras costs
• No tour operations
Pearl Air
• Pearl Air was a private airline based at Jinnah
International Airport, karachi, Pakistan.
• Pearl Air is a part of Habib Alvi Group of Companies.
Pearl Air had planned to operate on domestic routes.
History
• Boeing 737-200Adv was delivered in January 2004.
• In 2005, airline was granted rights to fly in Pakistan by the CAA
of Pakistan.
• In January 2012, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) allowed Pearl
Airlines to start operation in Pakistan. Now Passenger Planes
of Pearl Airlines would be started soon.
Fleet
• 2 Boeing 737-200
Planned destinations
• Pearl Air planned to fly to the following destinations:
• Karachi (Jinnah International Airport)
• Islamabad (Benazir Bhutto International Airport)
• Lahore (Allama Iqbal International Airport)
• Peshawar (Peshawar International Airport)