Shaheen Air International

Infobox Airline
airline=Shaheen Air International

logo_size=249
fleet_size=7
destinations=10 (4 Domestic, 6 International)
IATA=NL
ICAO=SAI
ICAO country prefix=
callsign=SHAHEEN AIR
parent=
founded=1993
headquarters=Karachi, Pakistan
key_people=Khalid Mahmud Sehbai (Chairman & CEO)
hubs=

* Jinnah International Airport

focus_cities=

* Allama Iqbal International Airport
* Islamabad International Airport
* Peshawar International Airport

frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.shaheenair.com

Shaheen Air International is a Pakistani private airline based in Karachi. It operates scheduled services in the main cities of Pakistan and to the Persian Gulf countries. Its main base is Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Karachi, with a hub at Islamabad International Airport (ISB), Islamabad.

History

The airline was established and started operations in December 1993. It was formed as a project of the Shaheen Foundation, Pakistan Air Force. In October 1994 it was designated as the second national carrier of Pakistan and in February 1995 began international operations, with a scheduled service between Peshawar and Dubai. When the airline started it operated a fleet of leased Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft on most of its domestic flights. Shaheen Air International (SAI) was given the status of being the "second national airline of Pakistan" during the first couple of years of operation, however this status is no longer recognised.

In July 2004, the airline management was changed when it was taken over by TAWA International Inc. of Canada. The new chairman of Shaheen Air, Khalid M Sehbai has made a foreign direct investment in Shaheen Air with the objective of taking the airline back to its successful past.

During November 2004, the airline inducted its first Boeing 737-200 Advanced for its main route of Karachi-Lahore-Karachi, that arrived at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi and phasing out of its Soviet aircraft.

During 2005, the cargo division of the airline also grew when it signed an accord with the Pakistan Post and British Airways Cargo. For cargo use, Shaheen Air Cargo acquired IL-76 aircraft. The aircraft will be used on Dubai - Karachi routesFact|date=September 2008. The initial two flights on January 3 and 5 carried about 100 metric tonnes export cargo that was delivered at Dubai for onward transportation to Europe and USA by British Airways flightsFact|date=September 2008.

In 2006, Shaheen Air International (SAI) became Shaheen Air and the airline introduced a new livery and website. The airline also introduced flights to Quetta - Karachi. The Governor of Balochistan said that the improvement of air links was also discussed in the ongoing talks between Pakistan and Iran and he has offered the management of Shaheen Air to operate Quetta - Zahidan sector flights. He said that initially SAI is operating with eight flight schedules on Karachi-Quetta route and Quetta - Lahore route. He announced that SAI would also operate flight between Islamabad and Quetta later onFact|date=September 2008.

On May 22, 2006 the Civil Aviation Authority stopped all flights of Shaheen Air as it owed millions of rupees to the CAA. On May 25, 2006 Shaheen Air International (SAI) was cleared by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to resume its domestic and international operations. The clearance letter was issued by CAA following receipt of the cheque from SAI towards payment of the outstanding dues.

On September 18, 2006, it was announced [ [http://www.abtn.co.uk/Shaheen_Air_begins_Doncaster_to_Dubai_service Shaheen Air Begins Doncaster to Dubai] ] that Shaheen Air was to start a four times weekly service from Islamabad to Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield in the UK. However, no flights were ever launched.

On October 2007, Shaheen Air International announced at the World Travel Market in London that they would be commencing flights from Islamabad to London Luton Airport. On February 7, 2008, their second UK destination Leeds Bradford Airport flights were launched. On November 2007, Shaheen Air International acquired 2 Airbus A310-300 aircraft for the long-haul routes to the UK leased from Turkish company, Saga Airlines. The first delivered long haul A310-300 (TC-SGC) has an all-white colour scheme with large Shaheen Air titles on both side of the fuselage. The aircraft flies twice weekly on both the new Islamabad - Lahore - Kuwait route and twice weekly service to Leeds Bradford Airport in England.

uspension of UK operations

Shaheen ceased operating to Leeds Bradford Airport in England from 1st June 2008 no reason was given. They have not announced any resumption plans nor addition of planned new destinations (Birmingham, Glasgow, Luton and Stansted). The airline also failed to introduce the second A310 into service, while TC-SGC will be returned to its owners.

ervices

Newspapers and magazines

Newspapers and magazines are available to all First and Business class passengers on SAI flights. Free newspapers are also provided to all Economy class passengers. The SAI in-flight magazine, Parwaz, is provided to all passengers on all flights. Parwaz was introduced on SAI flights in 2007 and it is published monthly.

Destinations

Shaheen Air International operates the following services (at February 2008):

;South Asia
*Pakistan
**Islamabad (Islamabad International Airport)
**Karachi (Jinnah International Airport)
**Lahore (Allama Iqbal International Airport)
**Peshawar (Peshawar International Airport);Southwest Asia
*Iran
**Bandar Abbas (Bandar Abbas International Airport) - tech stop only
*Kuwait
**Kuwait City (Kuwait International Airport)
*Oman
**Muscat (Seeb International Airport)
*Qatar
**Doha (Doha International Airport)
*United Arab Emirates
**Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi International Airport)
**Al Ain (Al Ain International Airport)
**Dubai (Dubai International Airport)

Former services

Shaheen used to serve Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta, Sukkur and Leeds/Bradford.

Fleet

The Shaheen Air International fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 28 August 2008) [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=NL&al_op=1] :

References

External links

* [http://www.shaheenair.com/ Shaheen Air International]
* [http://www.pakistaniaviation.com Pakistani Aviation]
* [http://www.shaheenairuk.com Shaheen Air International UK]
* [http://www.lbia.co.uk/newsandupdates-newsstory.php?storyid=20080111 Shaheen LBIA announcement]

Additional References

* The News, Jang Newspapers "Shaheen Air, British Airways reach accord"
* [http://www.dawn.com Dawn Newspapers] "Shaheen Air, Pak Post ink accord"
* [http://www.jang.com.pk Jang Newspapers] "Shaheen Air inducts Boeing"
* [http://www.nation.com.pk The Nation, Pakistan Edition] "Shaheen Air starts Quetta flights"
* [http://www.ontimetravel.co.uk/2008/05/shaheen-air-sai-suspended-flights-for.html Pakistan Travel News] "Shaheen Air (SAI) Suspended Flights For Islamabad from UK "

ee also