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Friday, 8 August
2008
'Pakistan
Times' Metro Desk
ISLAMABAD: Keeping
intact its marvellous pledge to make available proficient, comfy
and cosy service to travellers – at home and abroad –
Pakistan’s fast growing new generation private sector airline
– AirBlue – sets-off a new service from the capital city
of Islamabad to the Punjab metropolis Lahore – with effect
from Monday August 11. {
* Airblue comment: LHE-ISB-LHE service is scheduled to begin August
18. }
Amid its mounting
popularity and to meet the demand of people from all segments of
society – AirBlue – has now decided open a new destination
in Pakistan beginning two daily flights between Islamabad and Lahore,
Syed Nasir Ali, Managing Director of the magnificent airline told
‘Pakistan Times’ [ISSN-certified daily e-Newspaper] on
Thursday.
We feel optimistic
of a grand and grandiose success with the new venture as well –
as not only that the service is being set in motion on peoples’
zestful demand – the fare shall also be comparatively quite
reasonable, the AirBlue boss said with zest.
He expressed
optimism that still more new destinations shall be introduced by
AirBlue in Pakistan as well as overseas.
At present,
in addition to several destinations in Pakistan – AirBlue operates
daily flights to Manchester in UK – as well as to Dubai in
the United Arab Emirates [UAE].
Increase the
number of flights is also being contemplated in the light of the
increasing digit of patrons – the clients who have extended
unique admiration for the airline – and that too in a short
span of time, Syed Nasir Ali said.
Listing yet
another marvelous accomplishment of AirBlue, the Managing Director
said; ‘Our next destination in UK is going to be London’.
Hopefully, it shall begin shortly’, he said and added; initial
task for this venture is almost complete.
The AirBlue
MD said; top priority is being given to to induction of long haul
planes on international as well as domestic destinations. Hence,
we have placed order for the purchase of 14 aircraft – which
shall be delivered to AirBlue by the manufacturers after every 3
months –taking almost 3 years for completion of the deal.
Though, A-321-200
is doing very well – yet we want to induct into AirBlue fleet
– larger aircrafts to facilitate optimal number of the desirous
and acclaimed customers, Syed Nasir Ali said.
The deal is
expected to be worth between $400 million and $700 million, he said.
"The airline wishes to put in its fleet of carriers short-to
medium-haul aircraft," he said.
About other
destinations, he said; in addition to Dubai in UAE and Manchester
in UK – AirBlue plans to introduce flights to Amman in Jordan.
Endorsing the
views, earlier expressed by AirBlue Chief Operating Officer Shahid
Khaqan Abbasi in an interview with 'Pakistan Times' [Daily e-Newspaper],
Syed Nasir Ali said; AirBlue believes in having a fleet of absolutely
brand new aircrafts – to ensure silky-smooth take-offs and
landings by most talented and experienced pilots, absolute comfort,
convenience and best possible in-flight service with wonderful hospitality
as its hallmark for its patrons – by nice, cordial and graceful
cabin crew.
The splendid
AirBlue, which started operations in 2004, is one of the country's
apex private carriers.
AirBlue currently
flies to many Pakistani cities, as well as to Dubai in the United
Arab Emirates and Manchester in Britain. It currently operates six
A320s.
‘Pakistan
Times’ [Daily e-Newspaper] understands that the airline has
encouraging prospects for growth in Europe and the Middle East with
more flights being planned to UK, UAE as well as in Pakistan.
AirBlue is a
private sector airline with Head Offices in Karachi. It is Pakistan's
second largest airline with almost over 20% share of the domestic
market. AirBlue operates scheduled flights operating 30 daily services
linking seven domestic destinations and international services to
Dubai and Manchester.
AirBlue currently
serves the following destinations.
Domestic:
Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta.
International:
United Arab
Emirates; Dubai, Service to Abu Dhabi is planned for winter 2008.
United Kingdom: Manchester
Trabzon; (Trabzon Airport) in Turkey is refueling stop only
Service to Sharjah has for the time being been postponed till further
intimation.
AirBlue plans
a large-scale expansion from 2009 onwards. The new planned destinations
include Bangkok, Copenhagen, Dhaka, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait,
London-Gatwick, Mumbai, Muscat, Oslo and Singapore.
###
{
* Airblue comment: LHE-ISB-LHE service is scheduled to begin August
18. }
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