Airblue will add another four, two wide body and two narrow body aircraft, to its existing fleet of five aircraft to take its fleet size to nine within the next twelve months.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Airblue told Business Recorder here on Monday that the new aircraft would include wide body A330-200 and A340-300 and narrow body A320-200 and A321-200. These aircraft would be acquired on dry lease of five to seven years. Negotiations with leasing companies in the United States, Europe and Singapore are in an advanced stage, he said.
With the induction of these four aircraft the seat factor would improve and passenger comfort enhanced. The entire fleet age would be eight years. The wide body aircraft would be used on the UK sector whereas narrow body would be pressed into service on the domestic and regional routes.
The Airblue CEO said that the airline was also evaluating the feasibility of acquiring a couple of Regional Jet (RJ) aircraft. The operating cost of RJ is low and fits in well in the Airblue plan to bring air travel within the reach of common man and low-income group people, he said.
Abbasi said that Airblue was the fastest growing airline in the private sector and during the last two years of its operations, it has shown lots of grit and determination in serving the people of Pakistan. The airline came into being on June 18, 2004 and would be celebrating its two years of successful operations on June 18, 2006.
He was of the view that the government should facilitate private sector carriers entering the markets, which are presently totally monopolised by national carrier PIA. For instance India and Saudi Arabia operations should be shared by private sector airlines, he said.
He said: "during the last two years of our operations, we have done well and nobody can point his accusing finger towards our capabilities and performance."
There is need for re-negotiating Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with Saudi Arabia and India, he said adding that liberalisation of visa policy between Pakistan and India also required immediate attention. He said, undoubtedly, India is a big market and "we are capable to make our presence felt provided the impediments mentioned above are removed," he said.
In July last year Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had announced that ASAs talks aimed at expanding the existing bilateral frameworks with countries where private airlines wish to commence operations shall be conducted at fast track. By December 31, 2005, it was calculated that Pakistan side should be able to hold talks with most of the countries. Process for the talks with India, South Africa and Kenya shall be initiated immediately.
In fact this assurance was part of the announcement made on July 27, 2005 regarding grant of additional routes/frequencies to Pakistan private airlines. It is now almost one year but nothing is known so far about the progress made by CAA towards re-negotiating the ASAs. Even where multiple designation is available a formal clearance is required from the government before private airlines start their operations.