Aero Asia International, Pakistan's First Low Fare Private Airline, with 11 years of successful operations, currently has 650 departures per month of which 400 are domestic flights and 250 international flights. Aero Asia operated first flight on Karachi-Islamabad-Karachi sector on May 6, 1993 with BAC-111 aircraft.
Aero Asia has seven aircraft in its fleet - three Boeing 737-200 and four DC-9, equipped with business and economy class. The airline is initially inducting two Airbus A320 planes shortly and these would increase to five in next six to eight months.
"We have operated some cargo flights and now inducting AN-26 cargo version plane for our cargo and courier service. Our courier express service covers 40 domestic destinations", said Director Operations Aero Asia Humza Y. Tabani in an interview with Khaleej Times.
He said Aero Asia operates three daily flights between Karachi and Islamabad, and Karachi-Lahore- Karachi sectors, on Karachi-Multan-Karachi and Karachi-Faisalabad-Karachi it has three weekly flights, Karachi-Peshawar-Karachi two flights a week respectively.
Humza Tabani said the airline has 11 weekly flights on Karachi-Dubai-Karachi, Lahore-Dubai-Lahore 7 a week, Lahore-Muscat-Lahore twice a week, Peshawar-Dubai- Abu-Dhabi-Peshawar 4 weekly flights, Islamabad-Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Islamabad thrice a week, Karachi-Abu Dhabi-Muscat-Karachi once a week, Peshawar-Doha-Peshawar once a week, Multan-Dubai-Multan and Faisalabad-Dubai-Faisalabad both twice a week. It has a weekly Lahore-Doha flight as well.
"Effective mid-April, 2004 two more daily flights will be operated on Karachi-Dubai-Karachi sector, Karachi-Sharjah-Karachi and Karachi-Doha-Karachi both twice a week flights".
He said from April 15, 2004, the reservation will be changed to web-based, connecting all travel agents globally to the system. More than 40 airlines around the world are interline partners of Aero Asia.
Humza Tabani said Aero Asia has its own ground handling, engineering, catering, ramp and other training facilities, approved by Civil Aviation Authority CAA of Pakistan. Its in-flight instructors are approved by CAA. The uniform of crew and ground staff is also being changed next month.
"Our flight kitchen near Karachi Airport can produce 5000 meals daily. Our food is checked and approved by Aga Khan Medical University as well as CAA", he added.
Chairman Aero Asia International Mr Yaqoob Tabani said it is our earnest desire to operate Umra flights to Saudi Arabia which the airline wants to do on no loss no profit basis.
"We have sought government's permission to operate flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and UK We are also planning to increase flights between Pakistan and United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, and increase flights from Multan and Faisalabad to Gulf states if there is more traffic", said Yaqoob Tabani.
Managing Director Aero Asia International Khursheed Anwar said the airline was update on paying charges of the CAA. Aero Asia's seat factor on domestic and international flights is 80%, he stated.