All Airbus A319 of Shaheen Air international’s are gone

Pakistan’s second largest airline Shaheen Air international has shrunk beyond imagination within the span of one year. It has recently said goodbye to all of its Airbus A319-100s. Among fanfare and celebrations, the airline welcomed the aircraft to cater to its routes where there was low demand. But Airbus A319 proved to be a disaster for the airline that is facing dire financial issues.

Shaheen air initially dry-leased 7 Airbus A319s from Dublin based Aercap. But one of the A319 never reached Pakistan and was sent directly to France for storage. All 6 of the planes which were dry leased from Aercap have left Shaheen Air’s operation in Pakistan now. To help Shaheen financially 04 of the aircraft have been subleased /wet leased to 2 airlines namely Royal Jordanian and Fly Egypt.

The following A319s are performing wet lease operations:

1. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNI is wet-leased to Royal Jordanian from June 5^th 2018.
2. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNJ is ferried to Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees Airport, France on 28 May 2018 and stored there.
3. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNK is performing wet lease for Fly Egypt from 5^th June 2018.
4. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNL is performing wet lease for Royal Jordanian from June 5^th 2018.
5. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNM ferried to Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees Airport, France on 2 July
6. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNN is performing wet lease for Fly Egypt from 5^th June 2018.
7. Airbus A319-100 AP-BNO never made it to Pakistan and ferried from Istanbul Ataturk Airport, Turkey, to Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees Airport, France, on January 5, 2018. Later registered in Bulgaria as LZ-AOC for Bulgarian Eagle which is a subsidiary of Germania in March 2018.

The Airbus A319s were massively underutilized in Shaheen Air operations which eventually lead the airlines to sublease to foreign airlines for 4 months which is extendable. By wet leasing, Shaheen air will generate revenue which will help the airline financially in the current hard time. Shaheen airlines pilots are flying the A319s on wet lease term. The 6 planes stayed will Shaheen air for more than one year.