Aero Asia International
File:AeroAsia Logo.png | |||||||
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Founded | 1993 | ||||||
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Hubs | Jinnah Intl Airport | ||||||
Focus cities | Allama Iqbal Intl Airport Islamabad Intl Airport Dubai International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 10 | ||||||
Destinations | 11 (7 Domestic, 4 International) | ||||||
Parent company | Regal Group | ||||||
Headquarters | Karachi, Pakistan | ||||||
Key people | Mohammad Yaqub Tabani | ||||||
Website | http://www.aeroasia.com |
Aero Asia International is a private Pakistani airline based at Jinnah International Airport Karachi in the province of Sindh. The airline was owned and operated by the Tabani Group however following the temporary suspension of its flights in the summer of 2006 the ownership of the airline was transferred to the UK based Regal Group. It was the first low cost airline to start services in Pakistan and operates to destinations in Pakistan and the Gulf states. Its main bases are the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi and Dubai International Airport, Dubai.
History
The airline was established in 1993 and started operations on 4 May 1993. It was owned by the Tabani Group of companies, who are also based mainly in Karachi, but have many businesses around Pakistan.
Aero Asia operated a fleet of three to five Yakovlev YAK-42D on main trunk routes in Pakistan. These were mainly Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. However as demand rose through the years the airline replaced its YAK-42Ds with Boeing 737-200Adv and DC-9s. The airline also introduced a more modern livery instead of having colour of past operatos of the aircraft on its fuselage. A large "Aero Asia" was added to the front fuselage in bold red colour with the airline logo in between the words and on the tail.
During the start of 2006, Aero Asia and Askari Bank MasterCard announced their strategic alliance to offer their card members special discounts. A MOU was signed in this regard by Mr. Kalim ur Rehman – President & CEO Askari Commercial Bank Ltd. & Mr. Abdul Rauf Tabani – Vice Chairman Aero Asia.
On May 22, 2006 The Civil Aviation Authority stopped all Aero Asia flights as it owed millions of Rupees to the CAA. The managements of the airline were pre-informed about the CAA decision and the ban would remain imposed till further orders by the aviation regulators.
On June 12th, 2006 UK-based Regal Group acquired Aero Asia from its original owners Tabani Group. Regal Group belonging to owners of Pakistani descent, has headquarters in Karachi and Yorkshire. The brand has presence in Pakistan, United States, and United Kingdom. The airline is currently in process of getting rebranded and restructured.
Allowance To Fly Internationally
Aero Asia has been granted permission to fly to the United Kingdom and United States from the end of the year 2005 by the CAA of Pakistan. However, because of the airline's restructuring process, it is expected that the international flights will commence by 2007. It will fly to Manchester, London and Birmingham in the initial phase whilst gradually including New York, Singapore, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bahrain in its international destinations. The latest Boeing and Airbus aircrafts are being inducted in the fleet to facilitate this venture.
Services
Aero Asia International provides the following services (at February 2005):
- Domestic scheduled operations:
- International scheduled operations:
Fleet
The airline started operations with BAC One-Elevens, one leased Boeing 707 and three Yakovlev Yak-42s.
Current fleet:
Specific Flights
- Abu Dhabi to Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar
- Doha to Lahore and Peshawar
- Dubai to Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar
- Faisalabad to Dubai, Multan and Karachi
- Islamabad to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Karachi
- Karachi to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Muscat, Sukkur, and Peshawar
- Lahore to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Karachi, and Muscat
- Multan to Dubai, Faisalabad and Karachi
- Muscat to Karachi and Lahore
- Peshawar to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, and Karachi