Another private airline, Q-Airways, is set to start domestic operations in Pakistan soon. On Tuesday, the cabinet gave a nod to the airline to start its operation in Pakistan.
The airline will initially operate flights between Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Minister for Information, Fawad Chaudhry, said that Cabinet has approved Regular Public Transport (RPT) license for the new private Pakistani airline, Q-Airways.
Q-Airline will become the fourth private airline in the country. Civil Aviation Authority believes the new airline will generate employment opportunities. Depending on its success, the flight might operate on international routes in the future.
According to CAA spokesperson, three new private airlines- Fly Jinnah, Q-Airways, and Jet Green Airlines, have also applied for the RPT licenses last week to launch domestic operations in Pakistan.
Pakistan's federal cabinet meeting approves issuance of Regular Public Transport (RPT) license to new Pakistani airline Q-Airways.
Q-Airways intends to start flight operations with three Airbus A320 aircraft initially on domestic routes.
Details: https://t.co/mJGq2nNKXk pic.twitter.com/DiJVOhC3aQ
— Pakistan Aviation News 🇵🇰 (@avpak3) January 25, 2022
“The process for permission to these airlines for starting domestic flight operations in the country is underway,” the spokesperson said.
“Apart from CAA, multiple government institutions are involved in the process; that may take time,” he added.
In December 2020, a third private airline, Air Sial was inaugurated. The inauguration ceremony of the new airline was held at Sialkot International Airport. The Chairman Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) Mian Naeem Javed said that the Sialkot exporters had established their private airline using their resources.
AirSial welcomed its first of the three aircraft of the series Airbus A320-200s in 2020 after it made a long journey from Goodyear, Phoenix to Karachi. Due to the airbus A320’s range limitations, it had to make 3 stops; New Hampshire, Ireland, and Egypt.
A major setback for PIA
Meanwhile, the national carrier faced another setback after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) refuses to lift restrictions on flights from Pakistan. Earlier, there were hopes that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will soon resume flights to Europe.
According to details, the Executive Director of EASA wrote to the CEO of PIA Arshad Malik. In the letter, dated January 20, EASA stated that it will conduct a separate audit of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
Read more: Europe refuses to lift restrictions on PIA?
Pakistan's federal cabinet meeting approves issuance of Regular Public Transport (RPT) license to new Pakistani airline Q-Airways.
Q-Airways intends to start flight operations with three Airbus A320 aircraft initially on domestic routes.
Details: https://t.co/ipIQdnwuX5
— Abdul Aziz – Noman (@nomanaziz83) January 25, 2022
Important to note, earlier, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) removed PCAA from the list of the Safety Significant Concerns (SSC).
Regarding this, an ICAO audit team visited Pakistan to undertake a safety audit of the aviation authority. It presented its report to its validation committee which cleared the safety audit. CAA received a ranking of 72. 77 percent. PCAA’s removal from SSC was a positive development. There were hopes that it would pave the way for EASA to remove the restrictions.