
An undated image. — International Road Transport Chamber of Pakistan
In a move to boost regional connectivity and expand its footprint, Air Punjab has announced to commence its direct flights to Dubai, Jeddah, and Karachi from Lahore.
The cost of the tickets is set to Rs15,000 for domestic flights, Rs40,000 for the Lahore-Dubai route, and Rs50,000 for the Lahore-Jeddah route, the Punjab-based airline also disclosed.
Air Punjab's new routes and their ticket pricing were brought to light by Air Punjab's working committee during the submission of the first report to the Punjab government.
The report details its financial architecture, operational strategy, and launch schedule.
The estimated total cost of the project ranges between Rs12 billion and Rs15 bn, and the plan is to lease five Airbus A320 aircraft to get things started, according to the report.
The lease fee for each A320 is $375,000 per month, which adds up to about Rs6.3bn for the fleet annually. The committee suggested salaries ranging from Rs1.5 million to Rs2.5m per month to draw in experienced pilots.
To ensure financial stability and efficient management, the airline will implement a public-private partnership (PPP) model. It is anticipated that the programme will boost private investment in Pakistan's aviation sector and create thousands of jobs.
As per the report, Air Punjab is expected to start operations by September 2026, marking a major improvement in regional connectivity and air travel infrastructure.