The working committee overseeing the establishment of Air Punjab has submitted its initial report to the provincial government, detailing the airline’s financial structure, operational plan, and launch timeline.
According to the report, the estimated project cost ranges between Rs. 12 billion and Rs. 15 billion, with a proposal to lease five state-of-the-art Airbus A320 aircraft. Each aircraft will cost $375,000 per month, bringing the annual leasing expenditure to roughly Rs. 6.3 billion.
The committee also proposed pilot salaries between Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 2.5 million per month, aimed at attracting skilled professionals from the aviation sector.
In its initial phase, Air Punjab plans to operate direct flights from Lahore to Dubai, Jeddah, and Karachi. The expected ticket fares are Rs. 15,000 for domestic routes, Rs. 40,000 for Dubai, and Rs. 50,000 for Jeddah.
The report stated that Air Punjab will operate under a public-private partnership model to ensure financial stability and efficient management. The initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs and promote private investment in the aviation industry.
As per the committee’s timeline, Air Punjab is scheduled to take off by September next year, marking a significant step toward improving Punjab’s connectivity and air travel infrastructure.