Air Karachi in talks with China’s COMAC to procure aircraft

Air Karachi, a newly launched Pakistani private airline backed by prominent Karachi-based businessmen, has initiated discussions with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) for the acquisition of aircraft to support its upcoming flight operations.

The airline received its Regular Public Transport (RPT) licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) last month and is now actively pursuing agreements with aircraft suppliers. Chairman Hanif Gohar confirmed that the airline is considering the COMAC C919 aircraft, in addition to models from Boeing and Airbus. He stated that flight operations will begin once a supplier agreement is finalized.

The C919 is a narrow-body aircraft designed for medium-haul routes, with a seating capacity of 158 to 192 passengers and a range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometers. It is currently in use by major Chinese carriers such as China Eastern and China Southern Airlines.

Air Karachi plans to initially operate domestic flights with a fleet of three aircraft, before expanding internationally. Under CAA regulations, the airline must complete one year of domestic service prior to launching international routes.

Launched in late 2024 with an investment of Rs 5 billion, Air Karachi follows the model of other private airlines in the country such as Air Sial. The emergence of new private carriers comes as Pakistan’s national airline, PIA, undergoes a privatization process due to ongoing financial challenges.