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RAWALPINDI: Serene Air, a private airline, started its operation on the domestic routes in the country on Sunday.
The airline’s first flight ER-503 Boeing 737-800 was operated from Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad on Sunday at 8pm for Karachi with Khalid Bashir, a retired Air Commodore and Chief Operating Officer (COO), present at the airport on the occasion.
Initially, the new carrier will operate on domestic routes with four Boeing 737-800s, two of them brand new aircraft and the remaining two to five year old, the COO said.
He added that Serene Air would fly on domestic routes, including Islamabad-Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad. However, the flights for Skardu will start in March.
Responding to a question about the number of flights operating from major cities, the COO said that three flights would operate on the Islamabad-Karachi-Islamabad route daily, while four flights in a week will be operated between Karachi and Peshawar and four between Karachi and Faisalabad.
He added that experienced staff members and well-trained cabin crew have been inducted in the new airline. Earlier, the Pakistan International Airline, Shaheen Air and Air Blue were operating on domestic routes.
Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2017
Comments (37) Closed
so now we know, why they are trying to kill national airline so these corrupt politicians can gain reputations for their own airline. I like to who has the most stake in this airline and I would not be surprised if it is Zardari and Nawaz part of it or some of their relative behind this. What a pathetic bunch of politicians we have
That s v good news for passengers of GB.
Good News, new business means new jobs and more jobs good for Pakistani youths.
Congratulations to all Pakistanis.
All the best to the new carrier.
Good Luck for Serene Air
New carriers emerging with old and used planes presents safety threats for the passengers!
Hope they and other local airlines grow exponentially like in other countries
4 flights weekly to Peshawar is good, as it was a need of time as only Shaheen and PIA operated (few flights) to Peshawar .
With the addition of this new airline, people of Pakistan have more options to choose from. Now the pressure will be on PIA to compete with this airline which has newer aircrafts. I hope they extend their flights to Saudi Arabia and Dubai which is more lucrative market than domestic.
"Earlier, the Pakistan International Airline, Shaheen Air and Air Blue were operating on domestic routes."
Such poor choice of words, makes it sound these three airlines have gone out of business??
Shouldn't it be, "Currently......"?
Whatever happened to Indus Air??
@Naveed yes you are right, for a while I was also stunned. I thought that those other airlines are replaced by serene air.
A few weeks ago PIA reduced flights daily between Karachi and Faisalabad. Perhaps PIA was ordered to open a window of opportunity to this airline
who is owner of Serene Air?
Please start the route of Karachi to Sialkot
very good addition. really happy to see that private sector exploring subject business.
Good news
We want to know the real owners, must be some corrupt politicians!
Happy that flights for Skardu will be started. It will promote domestic tourism as well particularly in summers in the country's Northern Areas... I think I should start planning for a trip.
@PAKISTAN FIRST What a rubbish comment ? All over the world, private sector is participating in all kind of business to meet the consumer demand. The investors has all the right to earn profit. PIA with all political recruitment can never be efficient in political and union mafia circumstances. We should make comments, only because we do not like a particular political party
Everything at the "expense of the country"
very good
I like the name 'Serene Air'
Is it owned by Serena Hotels group? or just a co-incidence?
Great news. The industry badly needs more competition to improve the overall quality of service and reduce ticket pricing.
@Abrar I think you missed the part in the report where they wrote that they are operating with two brand new and two 5 years old plans. Quite young fleet.
@PAKISTAN FIRST what makes you think it is owned by politicians and not by non-politician group. Mr. Khalid Bashir who was present on the occasion in a "retired" Air Commodore and Chief Operating Officer (COO). The CEO Sohail Gul Khan of Serence Air was Vice Chief of The Air Staff at Pakistan Air Force.
Good luck and wish Pakistanis get a reliable and safe airline at affordable rate.
Who is owner? Definitely stakeholders are NS and company.
@DawnDon The Airline is owned by two retired air marshals of the Air Force and not any of the politicians as commented upon in some remarks. Neither has it anything to do with Serena Hotels etc.
PIA drown and the private airlines flourishing in the country and the real cause behind the losses to national flag carrier which once considered among one of the best airlines of the world is struggling for its survival due to nepotism, favoritism and most importantly ruling elite's corruption and commission mafia.
Cat is out of the bag now. Slowly and gradually they will transfer all resources of PIA and leave it as a skeleton. Politician's Tammy will never be filled.
We welcome Serene Air's launch. This is great news for civil aviation in Pakistan. These private airlines provide better service than PIA and are profitable. This is because PIA was ruined by government inducting political party "jiyalas", who should never have been employees on the national flag carrier. The government subsidizing PIA can only end, when jiyalas are sacked and the airline managed professionally.
Getting operational with just four aircrafts? Seriously?
There is nothing wrong with the addition of one more airline to share the domestic routes. However, the most important thing is to ensure that it operates with maximum safety standards and technical maintenance. Safety has been a major issue with all the Pakistan registered air carriers.
It would be great to let Pakistani people know, who owns the Serene Air.
@DawnDon Air Marshal Sohail Gul Ex-VCAS PAF