.,.,
CAA official confirms prominent aviation group in Africa is returning to port city.
Bilal Hussain
Ethiopian Airlines, a prominent aviation group in Africa, is restoring its Karachi route after nearly two decades, and will launch its first direct flight to the port city on May 9, 2023, confirmed an official of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to Business Recorder on Friday.
In April, the airline had announced that it will be returning to Karachi in May as it has finalised preparations to launch direct flights.
It first served the city from July 1966 to December 1971, and resumed the service from June 1993 until July 2004.
The airline will now operate four weekly direct flights to Karachi after having completed the required prerequisites to complete its comeback.
The development comes at a time when foreign airlines are struggling with operations in Pakistan.
Virgin Atlantic recently announced it will be suspending services between London Heathrow and Lahore and Islamabad, as it “reviewed its entire network and decided to make a few changes”.
Similarly, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association of global airlines, also
warned in March that Pakistan has become “very challenging” to serve as carriers struggle to repatriate dollars.
Last year in December, the
IATA said Pakistan stood among the top markets where airline funds have been blocked from repatriation.
Director Sales and Operations Iraqi Airways Nehal Akbar said these amounts have been stuck since September 2022.
“Some airlines have suspended operations, a few have trimmed business while others are selling tickets at high rates from outside the country,” he told
Business Recorder. He said international airlines have been incurring a loss since their receivables are stuck in Pakistan since the dollar rate was around Rs220. It has now
crossed Rs280. However, Ethiopian Airlines seemed unperturbed.
“We are excited to return to Karachi nearly two decades after we last served the city. As the most populous city in Pakistan, Karachi will be a crucial gateway to Pakistan and the wider South Asia region,” said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew while commenting on the resumption of services to Karachi, according to the company’s website.
“As the only flight connecting Pakistan with Africa, the planned service to Karachi will have a significant contribution in strengthening the diplomatic and economic relations between the two regions,” he added.
