Airblue

Infobox Airline
airline=Air Blue
logo=Airblue-logo.jpg
logo_size=275
fleet_size=8
destinations=10
IATA=ED
ICAO=ABQ
callsign=AIRBLUE
parent=
founded=2003
headquarters=Karachi, Pakistan
key_people=Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
hubs=Jinnah International Airport
focus_cities=Allama Iqbal International Airport
Benazir Bhutto International Airport
frequent_flyer=Blue Miles
lounge=
alliance=
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. [http://www.anna.aero/2008/05/23/airblue-20pc-share-of-domestic-traffic-pakistan/ Airblue now has 20% share of domestic traffic in Pakistan - looks to Scandinavia for further western expansion | anna.aero ] ] . Airblue operates scheduled flights operating 30 daily services linking seven domestic destinations and international services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Manchester. It carried 1.4 million passengers on domestic flights in the 2006-07 fiscal year. [http://www.anna.aero/2008/05/23/airblue-20pc-share-of-domestic-traffic-pakistan/ Airblue now has 20% share of domestic traffic in Pakistan - looks to Scandinavia for further western expansion | anna.aero ] ] 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).cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 69 | date= 2007-03-27]

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.

ervices

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.

elf 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 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. [http://app.com.pk/n49.htm 1]

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.

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 17 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 despite using suitable aircraft.

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.

Cost cutting measures

To deal with the fuel price hike worldwide, Airblue 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 ending full meal services and replacing it with sandwiches and pastries. In 2006 Airblue did away with chinaware crockery service for meals in economy class to cut costs and weight, replacing it with plasticware as per normal industry practice.

Destinations

Airblue plans for a large-scale expansion from Summer/Winter 2008 schedule which is expected to see five new destinations added Birmingham, Delhi, Kuwait and Sharjah. Air Blue also began flying to Abu Dhabi on 24 August [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=/data/business/2008/August/business_August786.xml&section=business] and Muscat since 15 September.

In Spring/Summer 2009 Kuala Lumpur as well as Copenhagen and Oslo are planned to be started.

Future destinations include Bangkok, Dhaka, Jeddah, London-Gatwick, Mumbai and Singapore. [http://www.anna.aero/2008/05/23/airblue-20pc-share-of-domestic-traffic-pakistan/ Airblue now has a 20% share of domestic traffic in Pakistan - and looks to Scandinavia for further Western expansion | anna.aero ] ] as well as Multan and Sukkur at home.

Catering & Ground handling

Airblue meals are catered by Gate Gourmet from their facility at Karachi Airport.Fact|date=September 2008.

Airblue is handled by Gerry's Dnata in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Swissport handle them at Peshawar.

Fleet

The Airblue fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 4 October 2008): [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=AIB&al_op=1]

Achievements and recognitions

* First airline in Pakistan and only the third carrier in the region behind Emirates and Royal Jordanian to introduce the state-of-the-art self-service check-in facilities at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.
* First private airline in Pakistan to initiate long-haul services on (Islamabad-Manchester) sector.
*First private airline within Pakistan to place an order for new aircraft.

References

Additional references

* [http://www.dhartipakistan.com/2007/01/31/air-blue-flights-to-uk/ AirBlue to start flights to UK]
* [http://www.airblue.com/Corp/060629_paktimes.htm Airblue Introduce Self Check-in System]
* [http://www.airblue.com/corp/060322_thenews.htm Airblue celebrates one millionth passenger]
* [http://www.airblue.com/corp/060119_PR_FLEET-EXPANSION.htm Airblue's Fleet Expansion]
* [http://ilfc.com/press/2005%20Air%20Blue.htm ILFC News Release]
* [http://www.airblue.com/Corp/050804_dailytimes.htm Airblue/Airbus Deal Press Release]
* [http://www.ontimetravel.co.uk/cheap_flights_to_pakistan_news/2008/07/pakistani-air-carrier-air-blue-landing.html Airblue Landing in Sharja]

External links

* [http://www.airblue.com/ Airblue website]
* [http://www.ontimetravel.co.uk/ AirBlue Authorized Travel Partner]
* [http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/AirBlue?show=all Airblue Fleet Detail]
* [http://www.airinternational.com/index.html?http://www.airinternational.com/current_issue/current_issue.html Airblue: A new high flyer from Pakistan] Air International Magazine, January 2006
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2005/08/05/200725/Pakistan's+Airblue+inks+deal+for+up+to+ten+Airbus+aircraft.html Airblue inks deal for ten Airbus aircraft] Flight International