Air Punjab Project Is Not Cancelled, Punjab Says
The Air Punjab project is not cancelled, Punjab Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said on Tuesday. He said the province’s first government-owned airline remains active, even though war and an oil crisis have slowed its progress.
Baloch said the government has no plan to scrap the project. He said work continues on leasing aircraft and on the steps needed to make the airline operational. The statement answers reports that had suggested the project was over.
The Air Punjab project was approved by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. It forms part of the provincial government’s plan to improve air links and to offer cheaper travel options within the country. A review meeting chaired by the chief minister had earlier picked the Lahore-Islamabad route as the first corridor for the airline.
Air Punjab project: licence secured, aircraft leasing under way
Baloch confirmed that Air Punjab has obtained a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority. He said the process of leasing aircraft is under way, with six aircraft planned for the first phase. That sequence matters, because a licence alone does not put planes in the air. The airline still needs leased aircraft, crew, and operating approvals for each route.
The government had also started recruitment for senior posts, including chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer. Those appointments form part of the preparation for launch, alongside the leasing work. No launch date was announced in the latest update, and no leased aircraft has been named so far.
Why the Lahore-Islamabad corridor comes first
The Lahore-Islamabad route makes sense as a first step. It links the provincial capital with the federal capital, and it carries steady government, business, and family traffic. A short domestic route also lets a new airline test its operations before it takes on longer routes. For passengers, the key question is price. The province has pitched the airline as an affordable option, but no fares have been published yet.
The delay also has a wider context. Baloch pointed to the Iran-US war and the oil crisis as factors that slowed progress. Fuel costs shape every airline’s budget, and war in the region has pushed energy prices higher this year. That pressure affects established carriers too, as Feature Pakistan reported when PIA’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arrived in Islamabad. A new airline entering service in such a market faces higher fuel and leasing costs than it would in calm conditions.
For readers in Punjab, the practical point is simple. The project is alive, but it is not yet an airline that sells tickets. The licence is secured, six leased aircraft are planned, and the first route is picked. Until leases are signed and a launch date is set, travellers should treat Air Punjab as a plan in progress, not as a booking option. The province’s push for direct air links also echoes the case made at Faisalabad for direct flights between Pakistan and Spain, where business travellers pressed for easier routes.
What happens next for Air Punjab
The next clear steps are the aircraft leases, the senior appointments, and a firm launch schedule. Each step will show whether the project moves from paperwork to operations. If leases are signed soon, the Lahore-Islamabad service could follow within months. If leasing stalls, the delay will grow, and the province will face fresh questions about cost and timing.
Baloch gave no cost figure for the leases and no date for the first flight. Those two facts will matter most when the province updates the project again. Until then, the official position is clear: Air Punjab is delayed, not dead.
The denial comes alongside other Punjab and aviation news, including Punjab ending waste companies over dirt and Pakistan-Saudi media, culture and tourism cooperation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Air Punjab cancelled?
No. Punjab Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said the project remains active and the government has no plan to cancel it.
Has Air Punjab received a licence?
Yes. Baloch confirmed that Air Punjab has obtained a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority.
How many aircraft will Air Punjab lease first?
The province plans to lease six aircraft in the initial phase, according to Baloch.
Which route will Air Punjab fly first?
The Lahore-Islamabad route was identified as the airline’s initial operational corridor at a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
When will Air Punjab start flights?
No launch date has been announced. Leases, senior appointments, and route approvals must be completed first.
