The News, 27 June 2008

DUBAI: Pakistan’s private carrier Air Blue plans substantial expansion in the Gulf region.

Syed Nasir Ali, Air Blue’s MD, says the airline plans to add 14 more flights from Pakistan to Dubai. He is here to finalise plans with officials.

Air Blue was launched in 2004 and in 2007 financial year carried 1.4 million passengers on domestic flights, or about 20 per cent of the nation’s passenger volume. It launched a daily flight from Karachi to Dubai in 2005 and now operates 21 weekly flights from Dubai to four Pakistani cities.

Nasir told Gulf News he wants to add flights to Sharjah & Abu Dhabi soon, along with Kuwait, Muscat & Jeddah. “We have received tremendous response from Dubai and our policy of low fares and quality service also helped us get more passengers.”

“We have also got rights to fly to Delhi in India and we are excited about it. Formal announcements about flights and schedule to new destinations will be made on August 14,” he said. Air Blue has $800 million order with Airbus for 14 aircraft, to be delivered from July 2009.

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