Air Karachi, a newly licensed Pakistani airline, has officially announced plans to commence domestic operations utilizing Chinese-manufactured commercial aircraft, particularly from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). This strategic move is positioned to offer a significant reduction in operational expenditures, with projected fare decreases of up to 40%, according to Chairman Hanif Gauhar.
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Gauhar elaborated that the acquisition cost for Chinese aircraft such as the COMAC C919 is approximately 50% lower than comparable models from industry giants Airbus and Boeing. While Air Karachi continues negotiations with Western aerospace manufacturers, COMAC has emerged as a leading contender due to both commercial advantages and broader geopolitical considerations. Pakistan and China maintain a longstanding defense aerospace collaboration, evidenced by joint projects like the JF-17 Thunder and Pakistan’s early adoption of the J-10CE multirole fighter.
Chinese commercial jets
The airline’s interest in the COMAC C919 aligns with Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to diversify and revitalize its commercial aviation sector, particularly in light of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) financial struggles and renewed privatization attempts. The vacuum left by PIA’s declining market share has created opportunities for private-sector entrants, with Air Karachi modeling its business strategy on the success of Air Sial, an initiative launched by Sialkot’s business community.
Founded in November 2024 by a consortium of 100 Karachi-based business stakeholders, Air Karachi was capitalized with PKR 5 billion (approximately USD 17.6 million). The airline was granted its Regular Public Transport (RPT) license by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on June 5, 2025, officially authorizing it to commence scheduled passenger services.
The airline plans to launch initial operations with a fleet of three aircraft, focusing exclusively on domestic routes in compliance with CAA regulations, which mandate one year of domestic operations before international expansion. Fleet expansion to seven aircraft is planned within the first operational phase.
Air Karachi’s cost-efficiency model is heavily reliant on reduced aircraft leasing and maintenance expenses, enabling the airline to offer competitive fare structures. To facilitate technical operations, the airline is working to locally base support infrastructure, including the importation of flight simulators and spare engines. Initially, Chinese pilots will operate the aircraft while Pakistani flight crews undergo training on the new platforms. This phased localization strategy aims to build long-term self-reliance in flight operations.
Importantly, the CAA has confirmed there are no regulatory obstacles to operating Chinese-built aircraft, paving the way for what could be the first commercial deployment of the COMAC C919 in South Asia. If finalized, this move would not only strengthen Sino-Pakistani industrial cooperation but also present a symbolic challenge to the Airbus-Boeing duopoly in emerging markets.
With operations set to begin shortly, Air Karachi represents a new chapter in Pakistan’s aviation landscape one defined by strategic diversification, cost efficiency, and technological independence.