Air Karachi to Slash Domestic Fares by 40% Using Chinese Aircraft
Air Karachi, a newly licensed Pakistani airline, has announced that it will begin domestic operations using Chinese-manufactured passenger aircraft.
The decision is expected to significantly reduce operational costs and lead to fare reductions of up to 40%, according to the airline’s Chairman, Hanif Gauhar.
Speaking to reports, Gauhar explained that the cost of acquiring Chinese aircraft is nearly half that of comparable Airbus and Boeing models.
By minimizing leasing expenses, the airline plans to pass cost savings on to passengers through reduced ticket prices. This approach is central to Air Karachi’s strategy to compete in Pakistan’s domestic aviation market.
The airline’s first phase will focus exclusively on domestic routes. Chinese pilots will operate the aircraft initially, while Pakistani pilots undergo training. Gauhar stated that efforts are underway to import flight simulators and reserve engines to support the fleet locally and accelerate crew readiness.
Air Karachi received its Regular Public Transport (RPT) license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on June 5, 2025. The CAA has not raised objections to the use of Chinese aircraft and has confirmed that there are no regulatory barriers to their deployment.
The airline has secured approximately $17.5 million in funding through a consortium of Karachi-based investors. It plans to start operations with three aircraft and expand the fleet to seven. All initial services will be domestic, by CAA requirements that mandate one year of domestic operations before international routes can be considered.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2025/07/25/air-karachi-to-slash-domestic-fares-by-40-using-chinese-aircraft/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
