RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s third private airline, Air Sial, has expanded its international operations with a total of two weekly flights from Sialkot and five weekly flights from Multan.

According to a statement issued by a spokesperson of the UAE embassy in Islamabad, the UAE Consul General in Karachi Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi officially launched the first international flight along with Air Sial Chairman Fazal Jilani at Sialkot International Airport.

A modest yet elegant ceremony, including a cake-cutting event, was held at the airport to mark the occasion of the airline’s first international flight. Representatives of Sialkot International Airport and Air Sial were also present at the event.

Mr Al-Rumaithi congratulated the chairman of Air Sial and his team for the successful expansion of the international flight operation of the airline.

He said that first the business community of Sialkot constructed an international airport, and today the launching of international airlines is another milestone.

“I have travelled with Air Sial and enjoyed it very much,” the UAE consul general said.

Air Sial launched its domestic flight services using Airbus A320-200 aircraft on December 25, 2020, for the route connecting Karachi and Islamabad.

The airline’s operation was initiated with a fleet of three Airbus A320-200 planes. Air Sial, an authorised airline, was conceived by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s members.

This endeavour followed the achievements of their previous project, the Sialkot International Airport Ltd.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2023