Pakistani social media is abuzz with rumors and gossips about Askari airlines and many social media accounts are sharing old clippings. Some of them are even trying to connect it to the current crises faced by PIA and Pakistani airlines. The clipping of the Urdu newspaper is not new and the news item was published in many mainstream newspapers. The fact of the matter is that Askari Airlines is new venture and part of it existed from 1995 in the shape of Askari Aviation.
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Askari Airlines Pakistan owned by Army Welfare Trust applied for RPT (regular public transport licenses) in 2016 as mentioned in the Aviation Division report in 2016. It was given approval in 2018 and that news item was reported in different media outlets. Askari Airlines was among few other airlines that received RPT.
Others included in the list were Liberty Air owned by Chaudhry Munir and Mian Amir, Go Green Airways owned by Elahi Group, Danish Elahi and Arshad Jalil, United Airways Pakistan Limited owned by Adnan Tabbni, Air Sial owned by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Afeef Zara Airways owned by Rashid Siddiqui.
So far only Air Sial is in a position to launch flight operations and that too is in doubt given the uncertainty after COVID19 and recent pilot licenses issue. Air Sial has got its planes and was ready to launch flight operations on 27 Ramzan this year. AirSial has hinted it will start flight operations in the last quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021.
Askari Aviation
Askari Aviation Services is a company owned by Army Welfare Trust. This includes business ventures like Askari Charter Services, Askari ground handling services, Askari Airport Services, Askari Travel & Tour, Askari Flying Academy.