Air Karachi is considering leasing up to three C919s as it firms up plans to launch domestic flights.
The start-up's chairman, Hanif Gohar, told reporters on July 25 that using the COMAC aircraft type would mean lower operating costs, adding that the cost of acquiring the Chinese-built narrowbodies is nearly half that of comparable Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Lower leasing costs would allow savings to be passed on to Air Karachi's customers, potentially allowing for a 40% reduction in airfares, he said, according to the business news site ProPakistani. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) also reportedly confirmed there are no regulatory barriers to using Chinese aircraft. However, the C919 is not yet certified anywhere outside mainland China except for Hong Kong.
According to Gohar, the C919s would initially be flown by Chinese pilots while their Pakistani counterparts are trained. Efforts are in hand to import flight simulators and spare engines, he said. The carrier did not immediately respond to queries from ch-aviation on the number of aircraft it is hoping to lease or when it anticipates launching flights.
While Air Karachi has yet to obtain its air operator's certificate (AOC), the PCAA has issued it a regular passenger transport (RPT) licence, a precursor to acquiring an AOC, which permits the would-be airline to continue developing plans to launch.
The start-up is a joint venture involving local business leaders and corporate investors, apparently led by Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Investors have pledged seed funding of PKR5 billion rupees (USD18 million), with further financing to be arranged. The airline intends to operate with three leased aircraft on domestic sectors before expanding to international routes.
Based on this background, 15th Annual China Aviation Industry Conference & 4th Aviation Industry Quality Infrastructure Construction Conference 2025 will be held in Anshun City, Guizhou Province on September 4th- 5th. This Conference will focus on the high-quality development of the aviation industry, layout the industry chain around the innovation chain, drive the incremental upgrading of demand with innovative technology, and guarantee the high-quality development of the large aircraft business by means of the latest national policies such as domestic production leadership, low-altitude economy, green development, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and high-quality development