At least three potential start-ups and one resuming carrier have again approached the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) for the necessary certificates and permits to commence operations, according to a report in the Pakistan Observer newspaper.
Q Airways, GoGreen Airways, and Jet Green Airlines have all reportedly recommenced talks with the PCAA about the licensing and certification process, while Air Indus is looking to restart flights. None of these entities are new. Air Indus ceased operations in 2015 but has been attempting to restart in one guise or another since 2016. GoGreen was among six prospective carriers that applied to the PCAA for regular public transport (RPT) licences in early 2018 with plans to launch in the latter half of that year. JetGreen Airlines and Q Airways also commenced the approvals process in early 2021.
In March 2022, ch-aviation reported that Q Airways had received its RPT licence and was awaiting its air operator's certificate ahead of it starting operations in the later half of that year, initially with three A320-200s before moving into widebody operations.
ch-aviation PRO airlines data shows that there are 20 active airlines based in Pakistan, including eight passenger charter airlines, one cargo airline, three business/private charter operators, one virtual carrier, two government carriers, and five scheduled airlines. Among the scheduled operators, three have launched in the last eight years - AirSial, Fly Jinnah, and Serene Air - while the Pakistani government is in the process of privatising the long-established PIA - Pakistan International Airlines.
