Airblue
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| Air Blue | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| IATA ED |
ICAO ABQ |
Callsign PAKBLUE |
| Founded | 2003 | |
| Hubs | Jinnah International Airport | |
| Focus cities | Allama Iqbal International Airport Islamabad International Airport |
|
| Frequent flyer program | Blue Miles | |
| Fleet size | 6+14 on order | |
| Destinations | 8 | |
| Headquarters | Karachi, Pakistan | |
| Key people | Shahid Khaqan Abbasi | |
| Website: http://www.airblue.com | ||
Airblue is a private airline based in Karachi, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's second largest airline with a 20% share of the domestic market.[1]. Airblue operates scheduled flights operating 30 daily services linking seven domestic destinations and international services to Dubai and Manchester. It carried 1.4 million passengers on domestic flights in the 2006-07 fiscal year.[2] Its main base is Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. Airblue makes a fuel stop at Trabzon in Turkey when flying to and from Manchester. This route is the longest route operated by an Airbus A321 aircraft in the world, and the longest scheduled route operated by an Airbus narrowbody aircraft (excluding the Airbus A319LR).[3]
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[edit] History
The airline was established in 2003 and started operations on 18 June 2004 with 3 leased Airbus A320-200 aircraft serving Karachi-Lahore and Karachi-Islamabad with three daily flights in each direction. The airline was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz.
During the first year the airline became very popular, which allowed the airline to compete directly with the flag carrier PIA and the two other private carriers. This allowed the airline to expand into more cities in Pakistan including Peshawar, Quetta and Nawabshah. On August 14, 2005 (Pakistan's 58th Independence Day) Airblue launched its first international flight from Karachi to Dubai and recently added Faisalabad to its network.
Further expansion plans are already in the pipeline with flights to Manchester having commenced on June 1, 2007 whilst an application to start flights to Jordanian capital Amman has been submitted. Other destinations that feature in their long term plans include further cities in the United Kingdom, as well as to India after government approval.
[edit] Services
Airblue was the first airline in Pakistan to introduce e-ticketing, wireless check-in and self check-in kiosk facilities. The airline also became a member of Sabre system that is used by over a hundred airlines to help it with ticket automation services.
[edit] Self service check-in
Leading the way with innovative new technology Airblue became the first airline in South Asia and only the second carrier in the region behind Emirates Airline to introduce the latest self service check-in facilities at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The system allows passengers with baggage to obtain a boarding card through the touch screen menu without needing to report to the counter. Airblue plans to extend the self service check-in facilities to Lahore and Islamabad, and eventually to all cities on its network. 1
[edit] One millionth passenger celebration
On March 22, 2006, Airblue celebrated the completion of handling of one million passengers on Tuesday at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The passenger was Californian resident Samara Azam. The airline gave her one month's free travel on all sectors operated by Airblue, 12 complimentary tickets for her friends and relatives, a two night stay in any hotel of Avari hotel’s chain and a two night stay in Pearl Continental Karachi.
Airblue handles around 100,000 passengers a month, and this figure will increase when the airline starts operating new routes to the United Kingdom and other regional routes.[citation needed]
[edit] Joint venture with JS Air
To comply with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations the airline started operating on socio-economic routes by flying to Nawabshah in central Sindh however the service was soon suspended because of low passenger load factors and the unsuitability of the A320 aircraft for this route. The suspension meant that Airblue was not compliant with CAA regulations and therefore had to incur penalty fees. To overcome the issue of non-compliance Airblue entered into a joint venture with start-up charter airline JS Air to operate flights on its behalf on socio-economic routes. This represented the first time in Pakistani aviation history that 2 air operators entered into a joint venture arrangement. The first destination under this agreement was the port city of Gwadar which was connected to the Airblue network on 17th June and was served twice daily, except Fridays, from Karachi. The flights were operated using JS Air's 19 seater Beech 1900C aircraft which are specifically suited to serving low yield 'commuter' destinations. This service was also suspended in 2007 due to insufficient demand depsite using suitable aircraft.
[edit] Cargo
Airblue have launched e-Cargo service to cater to air freight markets of Pakistan, UAE and UK. According to a press release, e-Cargo will broaden the base of cargo and permit certified agents to book freight directly online opening the inventory through the web and allowing more competitive prices, making the transportation of goods more affordable.
[edit] Cost cutting measures
To deal with fuel hike worldwide, Air Blue are converting their fleet to all Economy class this will also be applied to their new aircraft which will be delivered starting in 2009, they are also considering ending meal services, in 2006 Air Blue did away with Chinaware crokery servcie for meals in Economy class and now use Plastic to cut costs and weight.
[edit] Destinations
[edit] Expansion
AirBlue plans for a large-scale expansion from 2009 onwards. Destinations currently on its 'wish list' include Bangkok, Copenhagen, Delhi, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, London-Gatwick, Mumbai, Oslo and Singapore.[4] The summer 2008 schedule is expected to see an increase in services to Dubai, as well as new flights to domestic centres, such as Sialkot and Multan. Following the re-negotiated aviation agreement with India, service to Delhi and Mumbai may be brought forward to the winter 2008 schedule.
[edit] Catering & Ground handling
Air Blue is the only Pakistani carrier whose meals are provided by world renowned airline caterers Gate Gourmet, the Zurich based company run their own facility at Karachi Airport.
Air Blue is handled by Gerry's Dnata in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, it's the local franchise partner of Dnata which is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, owners of Emirates Airlines. Air Blue is also handled by SGS (SAS Ground Services) in Manchester. Swissport handle them at Peshawar.
[edit] Fleet
Airblue fleet includes the following aircraft as of 2008.
| Type | Total | Passenger (Business/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 + 14 orders |
24 Business + 116 economy | Short and Medium haul | Being converted to all Economy configuration |
| Airbus A321-200 | 3 | Short, Medium and Long haul | 1 all Economy configuration others to be converted |
|
| Total | 6 + 14 orders =20 |
Updated April 2008 |
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- Speculation continues on whether Airblue will place orders or lease wide body aircraft for its long haul operations.
- Air Blue of Pakistan announced at the 2007 Dubai Air Show that they were in negotiation with Airbus for an unspecified number of A350 XWBs.
[edit] Achievements and recognitions
- First airline in Pakistan and only the third carrier in the region behind Emirates Airline and Royal Jordanian to introduce the latest self service check-in facilities at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi
- First private airline in Pakistan to initiate long-haul services with (Islamabad-Manchester)
- First private airline within Pakistan to place an order for new aircraft.
[edit] References
- ^ Airblue now has 20% share of domestic traffic in Pakistan - looks to Scandinavia for further western expansion | anna.aero
- ^ Airblue now has 20% share of domestic traffic in Pakistan - looks to Scandinavia for further western expansion | anna.aero
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-03-27, p. 69.
- ^ Airblue now has 20% share of domestic traffic in Pakistan - looks to Scandinavia for further western expansion | anna.aero
[edit] Additional references
- AirBlue to start flights to UK
- Airblue Introduce Self Check-in System
- Airblue celebrates one millionth passenger
- Airblue's Fleet Expansion
- ILFC News Release
- Airblue/Airbus Deal Press Release
[edit] External links
- Airblue website
- AirBlue Authorized Travel Partner
- Airblue Fleet Detail
- Airblue: A new high flyer from Pakistan Air International Magazine, January 2006
- Airblue inks deal for ten Airbus aircraft Flight International
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