Fly Jinnah (FJ), a low-cost air carrier, is preparing to commence flight operations from the Jinnah International Airport Karachi after securing the necessary regulatory approvals and licenses.
The airline is a joint venture of Lakson Group, a leading Pakistani business conglomerate company, and Air Arabia Group, a one of its kind low-cost air carrier operating in North Africa and the Middle East.
Full compliance
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority issued Fly Jinnah its Air Operating License (AOL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) this week. The company obtained a Regular Public Transport license in 2021.
The airline said that getting AOC and AOL is a confirmation that the airline was in “full compliance” with all technical and operational requirements of PCAA.
“Securing the AOC and AOL confirms that Fly Jinnah has met all the professional capabilities, adheres to all safety regulations, and has proven safe and secure to operate as a passenger and cargo airline following the completion of rigorous inspections by the PCAA,” the company said in a press release.
PACC issues air operator certificates only to airlines that demonstrate they have fully trained and qualified staff, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, systems, processes, and procedures to ensure the safety of the public and its employees both on the ground and in the air.
Date for launching ops
The airline further said that it has not yet decided on a date to launch flight operations, adding that it would continue to coordinate closely with the PCAA, hoping the date for launching airline operations would be determined soon.
Fly Jinnah fleet
Based in Karachi, the airline will commence operations with a fleet comprising three Airbus A320 aircraft, according to the press release. The carrier will initially operate on domestic routes only.
FJ Chairman Iqbal Ali Lakhani said a lot of effort had gone into availing the licenses and the company was looking forward to launching its operations and contributing to the economy.
“We thank the PCAA for their support throughout the entire process of obtaining the AOC and we are confident that FJ will add significant value to the air transport sector of Pakistan,” Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali said.
