The Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority has announced that private airlines will start operating in several smaller cities in Pakistan starting next year. The new air services will begin in the second quarter of 2025 and will include flights to cities such as Sukkur, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Gwadar.
DG Nader Shafi told Samaa TV that this expansion will make air travel more accessible for citizens living in these regions by facilitating travel between primary and secondary airports. The airline plans to operate with a minimum of three small planes, each capable of accommodating 40 to 50 passengers.
This move comes in response to the substantial demand for travel, as approximately 30 million passengers currently rely on buses, trains, and other vehicles to travel between the northern and southern regions of Pakistan each year.
Shafi further noted that reasonable fare pricing on these new routes could prove highly profitable for the airline while providing travelers with a faster and more comfortable means of transportation.
He expressed optimism that the new flights will greatly benefit local economies and improve connectivity for residents of smaller cities.
