New British airline planning Pakistan service

[newscaster]

Called Global Spirit Airlines set up by a Pakistani immigrant is planning to start Manchester-Islamabad and London Gatwick-Lahore operations with 747-200, any one have more info?

[brabazon]

ATI had a bit on a new start-up called Air Mashriq in June this year intending to use 767s, perhaps Algy will oblige....

[newscaster]

More info http://www.historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=168.

Interesting livery bad uniform hat.

[Cyrano]

Here's the link, to a Pakistani newspaper site with a photo of the launch press conference here (http://www.inpk.com.pk/pictures/08-09-2004/inp%2008-12%20isb%20A.jpg) (hope that link works!). The interesting thing is the Astraeus logo on the backdrop beside the Global Spirit DC-10 artist's impression. I wonder what all that's about?

C.

[Algy]

As Brabazon mentions, we ran this copyrighted story in June. More to come shortly for subscribers.

Algy


Start-up Air Mashriq plans discount UK-Pakistan services
David Kaminski-Morrow, London (24Jun04, 12:21 GMT, 350 words)


Investors are planning to start a long-haul carrier, known as Air Mashriq, to operate from major cities in the UK to Pakistan in order to reduce the cost of travelling non-stop between the two countries.

Air Mashriq is intending to dry-lease a pair of Boeing 767s for the service and the company’s chairman, Saifur Rehman, tells ATI that it hopes to operate a fleet of three aircraft. The company is presently seeking to obtain an operating licence.

Rehman says that there is strong demand for a competing carrier to operate routes from cities such as Manchester and London to the main Pakistani destinations of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

He predicts that the airline will begin operating in December this year with up to 12 flights per week between the two countries. The aircraft would be configured in two classes: business and economy.

British Airways (BA) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are the only carriers operating non-stop from the UK to Pakistan. Rehman argues that fares on these non-stop services are too high for many travellers and that passengers frequently opt for less-expensive, indirect services via locations such as the Middle East – despite the inconvenience.

“We have a lot of Pakistani people travelling indirectly,” he says. “Our airline will be a discount airline operating direct, non-stop flights.”

Originally the company had intended to set up as a wet-lease operation but Rehman says that the business plan has had to be revised to make way for a dry-lease instead. He adds that the Boeing 777 is a possible alternative to the 767 for the operation.

The UK CAA acknowledges that Air Mashriq has submitted an application for a ‘type A’ operating licence, required for operations of aircraft with 20 seats or more. It declines to disclose any further details about the would-be carrier.

Air Mashriq is being partly-funded by Rehman and his family who will provide about one-third of the start-up capital. Rehman estimates that the initial funding requirement amounts to £25 million ($45 million); the company is seeking additional investors to provide the balance, as well as personnel for key roles.


Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

[newscaster]

Two others, Greece Airways/Air Scotland planning Glasgow-Faisalabad and Athens-Islamabad and Astareus Limited Manchester-Islamabad have already been rejected by CAA Pakistan on PIA's objection, wonder if these new startups will be able to get through, I doubt it, Virgin and BMI have greater chances of approval if they choose to fly there.

[HOODED]

Wonder if thats what happened to the the proposed LBA to Pakistan link by Air786 or whatever they were called as it all went quiet. Perhahps PIA realised where all their pax ex MAN were coming from and didn't want someone else stealing them at a closer airport.

[gayrugbybloke]

Is Air Mashriq still going to happen from MAN?