Pakistan

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has confirmed the long-rumored procurement of the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft by Azerbaijan.

The trend toward airline privatization has been gathering momentum in the South Asia region since the pandemic.

The Pakistani government had previously expected final bids for PIA in early August—but the deadline has now been shifted to the end of September, according to reports.

IPS Airways will be a “virtual airline” handling ticket and admin functions; flights will be performed by Germany’s Universal Sky Carrier using Airbus A340-600s

Pakistan and Bangladesh have become the two countries that owe the most money—more than $700 million—to overseas airlines, according to IATA.

The Pakistan government will soon consider whether to grant final approval for a plan to sell a majority stake in Pakistan International Airlines.

Pakistani combat aircraft and UAS have struck targets in Eastern Iran a day after Tehran conducted a missile and drone strike in Western Pakistan.

Qatari Eurofighter Typhoons are operating with Pakistani Chengdu J-10Cs in the first military drills bringing the two canard fighter types together.

The Pakistan Air Force is planning to acquire the Chinese J-31/FC-31 combat aircraft.

Pakistan and Belarus have joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station program, according to the China National Space Administration.

No longer reliant on Russian engines, China is pushing fighter exports in new markets, but can it score a breakthrough order?

Omani LCC SalamAir intends to add more flights and destinations in Pakistan.

Turkish uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) manufacturer Baykar is to undertake research and development activities in Pakistan under a new project led by the Pakistan Air Force.

Just days after Azerbaijan was inducted into the Kaan combat aircraft program, Turkey is planning to begin negotiations with Pakistan to do the same.

Talks are under way between EASA and the Pakistan CAA over allowing Pakistan International Airways (PIA) to resume flights to the European Union (EU).

Fly Jinnah plans to fill the gap for low-cost capacity on domestic routes before expanding internationally.

Service from Doha to Pakistan’s seventh largest city will restart later this month after a hiatus of almost two years.

EASA banned Pakistani carriers from flying to the EU in 2020 following a fatal PIA crash.

Routes from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US are all affected by the move.

A new low-cost airline is being launched in Pakistan that will serve both domestic and international routes.

As British Airways begins a second route to Pakistan, Routes looks at the state of the country’s somewhat underexploited aviation market.

Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week we look at Virgin Atlantic’s move into the UK-Pakistan market; Jetstar’s resumption of Sunshine Coast-Adelaide flights; and the launch of a new Widerøe route from Bergen.

Karachi is Pakistan’s largest airport by capacity, while national carrier Pakistan International Airlines remains the country’s biggest airline.

The privately-owned Serene Air commenced flights on January 29, 2017 between Karachi and Islamabad after securing its air operator certificate just a week earlier. The airline is also offering flights between Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and Faisalabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, with the latter also being served from Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad too.