Gulf News

Country’s first air taxi service all set to take to the skies

Indigenous company hoping to get business travellers on board

- BY SANA JAMAL Correspond­ent

An indigenous aviation firm is all set to launch the country’s first air taxi service next month, revolution­ising urban mobility and providing a swift mode of transporta­tion.

The Karachi-based aviation company Sky Wings has announced this venture in collaborat­ion with a foreign company. “We are planning to launch the air taxi service within 10 days,” Usama Farooq, a spokespers­on for Sky Wings told Gulf News. The service will be launched after the completion of the formalitie­s and certificat­ion by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Sky Wings has a fleet of eight aircraft including Seneca, Cessna, and the newly-acquired Austrian single-engine fourseater DA-40 Diamond aircraft. These aircraft have a capacity of two to six passengers each.

Initial routes

Initially, the service will be launched from Karachi to other regions of the Sindh and Balochista­n provinces, Imran Aslam Khan, Sky Wings Aviation Chief Operating Officer (COO), told reporters.

The online service will operate similarly to a charter flight operation, allowing people to reserve rides online and through a mobile app. Sky Wings already operates chartered flight operations, ambulance services, and pilot training programmes.

The company COO said that the fare of air taxi service will be economical compared to chartered flights.

While the company is still finalising costs and other details, the estimated fare for a round trip from Karachi to Nawabshah would be around Rs180,000 and from Karachi to Gwadar approximat­ely Rs430,000.

Sky Wings is optimistic about gaining substantia­l traction among business travellers.

The aviation company aims to become a game-changer in the transporta­tion industry in Pakistan, offering passengers the opportunit­y to reach their destinatio­ns in style and comfort.

The online service will operate similarly to a charter flight operation, allowing people to reserve rides online and through a mobile app.

 ?? Sky Wings ?? ■
One of the newly acquired planes Sky Wings plans to operate.
Sky Wings ■ One of the newly acquired planes Sky Wings plans to operate.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates