The most recent addition to domestic carriers, Air Blue, will go international by next year and add socio-economic sectors to its operations soon.
This was stated by Air Blue Chairman Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at a luncheon meeting with aviation correspondents here on Thursday. Air Blue Marketing Director Syed Nasir Ali was also present.
He said that after completing one year as a purely domestic carrier, as Karachi-Lahore-Karachi and Karachi-Islamabad-Karachi, the airline was likely to expand its operation to the Middle East and South Asia.
When his attention was drawn to the clause in the bilateral air agreements under which only the national carriers could operate from point to point in each others country, he said that stood no good now and second airline could also operate after getting due permission.
He quoted the case of Singapore, which followed open skies' policy, and said any airline could go to that country.
It may be noted that Pakistan had co-terminalisation agreement with the Singapore Airlines, which was considered "bad" by aviation experts.
It allowed the airline to come to Karachi and proceed to points beyond picking up passengers from Lahore and Islamabad. Singapore, being a city-state, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) operated to that country with a great disadvantage.
However, Singapore Airlines, despite enjoying "most favoured airline" status, was one of the first to suspend operations to Pakistan after the Afghan war which still continues.
He said that no Pakistani carrier other than the PIA could go to Saudi Arabia, as the bilateral agreement had no room for the second airline to operate between the two countries.
But Air Blue would definitely reach points in the Middle East and South Asia as the markets in these areas had enough potential to allow second carrier to operate.
Abbasi said that to meet its national obligations, the Air Blue would soon start operating on the socio-economic sectors. To begin with, it would add Sukkur to its schedule, most probably, from next month. People from Jacobabad, Larkana, Shikarpur and other adjoining areas would be greatly benefited from that service, he said.
Interestingly, private airlines were given licenses on the condition that they would operate on socio-economic routes proportionate to their domestic operation, but gradually most of them withdrew, as these operations were found unprofitable.
Being a national carrier, the PIA was loosing heavily on the socio-economic routes. The Cabinet, therefore, decided that the issue of operation of non-viable domestic routes would be reviewed.
If certain routes were still to be operated for socio-economic reasons, the government would then consider grant of a suitable subsidy for those routes.
The Air Blue Chairman exuded confidence and optimism by expressing himself clearly that the local markets for the private carriers had plenty of potential. It had not the number of aircraft, but the service, which counted with the travelling public.
If the behaviour of the staff was nice and service on board was friendly, people would prefer flying that carrier. The facilities had to be really first class, he said.
The Air Blue has presently three A-320 aircraft, which it intends to maintain, being sufficient to cater to its present operational requirements.
What he has in mind is to learn from the comments and reaction of people travelling Air Blue, come up to their standards and ensure that the airline achieved the distinction of being recognised as good, if not the best carrier among the existing ones.
Being out of active politics, though he said he was still with Pakistan Muslim League (N) and had no intention of changing loyalties, he looked a very relaxed person, amiable and friendly to talk to unlike the days when he was kicked up by Nawaz Sharif to take charge of the PIA as its Chairman.
A position unique in many ways as never before in the history of the PIA, a politician being also a Minister of State was alleviated to that position.
He expressed complete satisfaction with the launch of the Air Blue in June this year and its current performance, which is likely to pass on from a break-even to a profitable position soon.
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