Having completed one year of successful domestic operations, Airblue would go international from August 14. Chief Operating Officer (COO), Airblue Ltd, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, addressing a press conference at a local hotel on Tuesday, announced that the international operation would start from August 14th to coincide with the Independence Day of Pakistan. Syed Nasir Ali, Director Commercial, was also present.
The airline, which started as a purely domestic carrier on June 18th last year, completed one year on June 18th this year.
Abbasi said that the government has granted permission to Airblue to begin its operations on international routes. To begin with 19 flights weekly would be operated as follows: Karachi-Dubai-Karachi seven flights, Islamabad-Dubai-Islamabad four flights, Lahore-Dubai-Lahore four flights, and Peshawar-Dubai-Peshawar four flights.
"It is another milestone for Airblue in aviation history to enter the international skies," he said, adding, "after we excelled in customer services on domestic routes and introduced E-ticketing we have taken step forward keeping in view the growing demand on this sector."
When asked to comment on the incredible reduction in fares announced by national carrier Pakistan International Airlines and whether it has made any dent in the profitability of Airblue, he said that despite all the adverse factors the airline is operating on 90 percent seat factor. "Often people find difficult to get seats". He said that the Director General, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is trying to resolve the problem of fare disparity. "Our stand is that the fares be fixed at sustainable level," he said.
The Airblue has approached the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for grant of permission to fly to UK and also demanded a share in the Umrah traffic.
The Airblue CEO said: "Once Indo-Pak relations are established on firm footing and air corridors are thrown open, air traffic between the two countries would grow at a very fast pace."
He said that Airblue would definitely be interested in starting operations to Bombay and Delhi.