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AirBlue Begins Muscat-Lahore Flight |
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MUSCAT -- Pakistan's biggest private carrier Airblue has launched its direct flight between Muscat and Lahore, bringing the number of airlines touching down at the Sultanate's capital to 25. The inaugural flight ceremony was held at Muscat International Airport yesterday under the auspices of Sohail Amin, Ambassador of Pakistan. In his speech, the Pakistani Ambassador welcomed the addition of Muscat to Airblue's destinations and said this will go a long way in enhancing connectivity and people to people contacts between the two brother countries. Airblue will operate three flights a week initially and within three months it plans to add two more. Plans are also on to launch flights from Muscat to Islamabad and Karachi in early 2009. Sarosh Bhatti, Airblue's general manager-marketing, said: "We are certain that the Muscat-Lahore route will serve a growing number of passengers between our two countries. We are hopeful that the demand will enable us to increase our frequencies to and from Muscat in a short period of a time." Airblue has acquired two new Airbus A319 aircraft. With the addition of these two new aircraft, the Airblue fleet now consists of three Airbus A321, three Airbus A320 and two Airbus A319. Air Blue, Pakistan's second largest airline, is the first private airline to have placed an order for 14 brand new A320 aircraft in Pakistan, Bhatti said: "The airline prides itself in having the youngest fleet of aircraft in Pakistan. The scheduled delivery of these aircraft starts from June 2009 at nearly three to six months interval." With the addition to these new aircraft to its fleet, Airblue will expand its operations to Saudi Arabia, London, Birmingham, Scandinavia and the Far East. Giving a brief about Airblue's origin, Bhatti said: "We started operation in 2004 with two domestic flights and currently Airblue flies to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Manchester and to all major domestic points. The airline is also hoping to increase the frequency as demand from the estimated 300,000 Pakistani expatriates living in the emirate increases. Stating that tickets can be booked online, he said: "We sell tickets through website and travellers can pay through credit cards. In Pakistan, we are the most automated airline." "With 90, 000 Pakistanis living in Muscat", he added: "For Airblue Muscat is a new market but it is a promising route." Airblue is looking to corner the lucrative Gulf market with more destinations set to follow the launch of its Muscat service. In August 2005, Airblue started flights to Dubai, which is a huge success. "Our market share for Islamabad to Manchester is 40 per cent and for Dubai it is 45 per cent. It tells you that we are a dominant player in the Pakistan airline industry," said Bhatti. Airblue carries around 30,000 passengers each month between Pakistan and Dubai. Earlier, George Bellew, CEO, Oman Management Company, said, "We are delighted of the announcement of Airblue to commence flights between Muscat and Lahore, Airblue is the 25th scheduled airline customer to fly into Muscat, hopefully Airblue will increase their flights to Muscat in the near future." By Hasan Kamoonpuri © Oman Daily Observer 2008 |
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