Pakistan’s Air Sial starts international operations with first flight to Jeddah

Air Sial, Pakistan’s third largest private airline, has started international operations with inaugural flight to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The airline’s first international flight PF716 departed from Lahore on March 29.

The first flight of Air Sial was welcomed by Pakistan’s Consul General Khalid Majid and other officials at Jeddah airport.

Pakistan’s Consul General expressed hope that the new airline would enhance connectivity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, paving the way for greater collaboration and increased trade.

Air Sial intends to operate four weekly flights from Lahore and Islamabad on Airbus A320s, reportedly with an all-economy configuration of 180 seats.

The service will later expand to include Karachi, Sialkot, and Peshawar in the second phase.

The airline has launched its flight operations amidst the peak Umrah season, providing a convenient travel option for Pakistani pilgrims making their way to Saudi Arabia. “The greatest demand for Pakistani travelers going for Umrah is Jeddah, the destination of choice for most pilgrims”, said Ameen Ahsan, CEO of Air Sial. Jeddah has been a gateway for pilgrims traveling to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

As part of its first phase of international expansion, the airline is looking to add Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Muscat, and Kuwait to its list of destinations.

In addition, Ahsan expressed the airline’s ambition to expand its reach to Europe and the rest of the world in the second phase of its expansion.

Air Sial, launched in 2017 by the business community of Sialkot, started operating in December 2020, connecting major cities in Pakistan.

In August 2022, Air Sial secured the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority license, allowing the privately-owned carrier to start international flights to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, and Iran.

Pakistan’s domestic aviation market comprises several airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), AirBlue, Serene Air, Air Sial, and Fly Jinnah.