A Karachi-based chartered airline is all set to launch its passenger flights from Karachi to Gwadar twice a week (Monday and Wednesday) starting from March this year.
According to officials, the airfare of the flights is set at Rs. 10,000 per side for locals and Rs. 20,000 for foreign passengers. However, discounts are available based on booking for a group of passengers and frequent traveling on the route.
In addition to passenger flights, separate charter flights on the same route are also available from morning to before sunset at a cost of Rs. 850,000.
Aircraft Sales and Services Limited was first established as a separate entity as Agricultural Aviation (Private) Limited in 1971. The main function was to carry out aerial spray for agriculture production and the company did extensive aerial sprays in Pakistan from 1972 to 1978.
Later, the company upgraded its mode of business to become a chartered airline. It has been operating chartered flights in Pakistan since 1979. Its clients are usually corporate entities in different sectors mainly operating in remote areas like oil and gas development companies and tour operating companies.
Its fleet consists of Beech 1900D (19 passengers capacity), Cessna Caravan II F-406 (9 passengers capacity), and Seneca (4 passenger capacity) aircraft. The flight services will be operated with two aircraft.
In 2016, the aircraft of the company met an accident on the runway of Jinnah International Airport which left two people injured out of a total of 18 passengers.
As the development paces up at Gwadar under China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the demand for air travel particularly from Karachi to Gwadar is on the rise.
Alternatively, PIA operates schedule flights thrice a week (Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday) from Karachi to Gwadar. Return flights cost Rs. 46,545 per passenger.
Gawadar, CEPAC, China, chartered airlines??? What’s up????