09.06.2023 - 13:08 UTC
A Canadian startup called Zara Airways is eyeing flights between that country and Pakistan as soon as August 2023, according to reports from multiple Pakistani outlets. The reports say the start-up wants to use a pair of B777s (type unspecified) to operate thrice weekly roundtrips between Toronto Pearson and each of Islamabad International, Karachi International, and Lahore International.
The reports name Faqir Bawar Hussain Bhakari, a Pakistani-Canadian entrepreneur, as the airline's founder and Syed Zafar Hussain Quli as CEO. The duo held a press conference in Karachi earlier this week to publicize their plans. The Canada-based start-up has partnered with Shaheen Airport Services for ground handling and turnaround services at Pakistani airports. Former PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International) managing director, Ejaz Haroon, has also signed on as an advisor. Media were advised that Zara Airways is currently obtaining a no-objection certificate from Transport Canada and is in codeshare talks with Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau). ch-aviation has contacted both entities to confirm this.
Canadian federal government...
09.06.2023 - 12:08 UTC
Carson Air (CRN, Kelowna) and PAL Airlines (Canada) (PB, St. John's) are to get a shot in the arm thanks to a CAD150 million (USD112.4 million) bought deal offering of common shares by their parent, Exchange Income Corporation (EIC).
"The net proceeds of the offering will be used to fund the corporation's growth initiatives, including partially funding the investments associated with recent announcements at Carson Air and PAL Airlines, and for general corporate purposes," EIC said in a statement.
British Columbia recently awarded Carson Air a CAD200 million (about USD150 million) ten-year-plus contract to provide fixed-wing medevac coverage for the whole province, which previously was divided into multiple contracts with different suppliers. The deal requires a fleet of new Beech (twin turboprop) King Airs and a full motion simulator for pilot training. EIC has contracted directly with the OEM and purchased production slots to meet the province's timelines. The aircraft will be modified with medical interiors and phased into service once the conversions are complete.
Meanwhile, PAL Airlines will...
26.03.2020 - 03:43 UTC
Aero Georgia (Tbilisi) is nearing an agreement with undisclosed investors amid plans to start operations in autumn this year, Chief Executive Igor Aptsiauri told Forbes.
"We want to start the certification process as early as possible because it will take another six to seven months. Then we still have a chance to start operations from maybe September, October of this year," he said.
He added that two Eastern European investors would "imminently" decide on their plans for the start-up while declining to name them.
Aero Georgia, which is a part of Aptsiauri-led Aero Georgia Group, plans to launch as a charter carrier with a single narrowbody seating around 150 passengers. The airline is looking to serve a variety of markets, ranging from executive and sport team charters to leisure passengers, flying to Europe, the Middle East, and the CIS region. Going forward, it plans to add one aircraft per year.
Aptsiauri admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the timeline but said that demand for charters should be revived by the time...
02.12.2019 - 02:26 UTC
Aero Georgia Group is in talks with a European investor to raise the capital it requires to set up a new Georgian airline, which will be called Aero Georgia (Tbilisi).
“One of the projects we are working on is the creation of a new airline. We are already in intensive talks with a potential investor," Aero Georgia Group Director Igor Aptsiauri, told Caucasus Business Week. "It will be a passenger airline, although the business model is still under discussion. It could be full service, low-cost, mixed or chartered, [it is] still in development. The airline will most likely be called Aero Georgia."
Aptsiauri added: "I am pleased that the investor is from Europe and most importantly from the aviation sector.”
Wizz Air (W6, Budapest) is currently Georgia's largest carrier in terms of weekly seats, commanding 22%, followed by Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) with 14% and Georgian Airways (A9, Tbilisi) with 8%.
Tbilisi-based Georgian Airways has a mixed fleet of a sole B737-800, three E190...
