The invention of the wheel forever changed humanity while also paving the way for future inventions. It also led to the invention of airplanes, which have drastically changed the way people travel from one location to another. 

Airplanes also made traveling across countries and continents easy for people all over the world. However, the popularity of air travel has given birth to thousands of airlines, making it difficult for people to decide on what’s the best option for them. 

If you are planning to fly domestically or internationally anytime soon, it is important to know about the top airlines in Pakistan so you can have a good travel experience. Let’s learn about the airlines currently operating in Pakistan and find out which ones are the highest rated! 

Airlines in Pakistan

The following airlines are currently operating in Pakistan: 

1. Qatar Airways 
2. Emirates
3. Saudi Arabian Airlines
4. Air Arabia
5. Fly Dubai
6. Pakistan International Airlines
7. AirBlue
8. Serene Air
9. Fly Jinnah 
10. Air Sial

1. Qatar Airways

Founded in 1993, Qatar Airways is one of the most popular airlines in the world. It is the flag carrier of Qatar and operates flights from its base at the Hamad International Airport in Doha. Qatar Airways flies to over 170 international locations across the world’s five continents and has a fleet of over 200 aircraft. 

The airline is known for offering exemplary services to passengers during flights. Although the First Class and Business Class of Qatar Airways come with amazing perks, the Economy Class passengers also have a comfortable experience flying with the airline. Qatar Airways is one of the ten airlines in the world to have been given a five-star rating by Skytrax. 

2. Emirates

Emirates was founded in 1985 with help from Dubai’s royal family and Pakistan International Airlines. It is currently one of the world’s largest airlines, with a fleet of approximately 250 aircraft. Emirates is one of the two flag carriers of the UAE and flies to 150 locations across six continents. The airline operates out of the Dubai International Airport and has a separate cargo airline named Emirates SkyCargo. 

Emirates offers exceptional seating and in-flight services to its passengers. In all classes, passengers can ask for their meals to be prepared according to their dietary restrictions, preferences, and religious considerations. Emirates also has an amazing in-flight entertainment system that ensures no passenger is ever bored during their journey. 

3. Saudi Arabian Airlines

Saudi Arabian Airlines, now known as Saudia, is the flag carrier of Saudia Arabia. The airline is based in Jeddah and operates from the city’s King Abdulaziz International Airport as well as the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. 

The airline flies to over 100 locations and has a fleet of 157 aircraft. Saudia offers a range of services to its passengers including halal food and complimentary amenity kits. Passengers flying with Saudi Arabian Airlines also have the option to shop for different products during their flights. The products usually available on a Saudia flight include branded perfumes and watches for men and women. 

4. Air Arabia

Established in 2003, Air Arabia is a low-cost carrier in the UAE that has multiple operating bases, including Sharjah International Airport and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. The airline flies to over 80 destinations across the world with its fleet of 82 aircraft. 

While the airline doesn’t offer free catering, customers can choose to purchase their meals before or during the flight. Air Arabia is also known for its generous loyalty program known as Air Rewards. 

5. Fly Dubai

In 2006, the Emirati government established flydubai as a low-cost carrier. The airline operates out of the Dubai International Airport and flies to 124 destinations in different parts of the world. flydubai’s fleet consists of 86 aircraft with orders in place for 166 aircraft. 

As a low-cost carrier, flydubai only offers in-flight meals to passengers on long flights to Europe and Africa. Those flying short distances can pre-book a meal when buying their ticket. flydubai has also added a business class that comes with exceptional in-flight entertainment features. 

6. Pakistan International Airlines

Pakistan International Airlines, commonly referred to as PIA, is the national flag carrier of Pakistan and has been operational since 1955. Throughout its history, PIA has achieved many remarkable feats, including being the first non-communist airline to fly to China. In 2005, PIA also completed the world’s longest nonstop flight from Hong Kong to London. 

PIA offers a range of amenities, including meals cooked to accommodate the special dietary restrictions of its passengers. To adhere to Islamic dietary laws, PIA does not serve alcohol and pork on its flights. The airline was the first international airline to introduce in-flight entertainment, offering its passengers an exceptional traveling experience. 

7. Airblue

Founded in 2003, Airblue is a popular Pakistani airline that competed with PIA during its first year of operations. The airline has multiple operating bases, including the Dubai International Airport and Islamabad International Airport. Airblue flies to 22 destinations domestically and internationally with a fleet size of 12 aircraft. 

Airblue was the first to introduce the service of e-ticketing in Pakistan. All the aircraft in Airblue’s fleet have overhead video screens, offering continuous in-flight entertainment to its passengers. The frequent flyer program of the airline is also quite popular and offers exciting rewards to its frequent passengers. 

8. Serene Air

SereneAir is a relatively new airline in Pakistan that was founded in 2016. The airline has its operating bases in multiple cities of Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. SereneAir has a fleet consisting of 9 aircraft and flies to 11 domestic and international locations regularly. 

The airline offers a range of services to its passengers but is most popularly known for its comfortable seating. SereneAir offers a different menu every day that consist of hot meals and a variety of drinks. The airline also offers passengers entertainment headphones for personalized entertainment. Every SerenAir seat has a charging socket, allowing passengers easy charging for their devices. 

9. Fly Jinnah

Fly Jinnah is Pakistan’s first low-cost carrier jointly owned by the Lakson Group and the Air Arabia Group of Pakistan and UAE, respectively. The airline has its operating base in Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. Fly Jinnah has a fleet consisting of 6 aircraft and flies to 11 destinations in and outside of Pakistan. Fly Jinnah has gained popularity in a short time since it was founded in 2021. 

After starting its operations in 2022 and completing one year of domestic flights, the airline was granted permission to operate on international routes. Fly Jinnah has a comfortable seating arrangement and gives passengers the option to choose their seats online. The airline is also known for SkyTime, its free in-flight streaming service. With SkyTime, passengers can choose from a wide selection of entertainment, including movies, TV shows, and documentaries. 

10. Air Sial 

AirSial is a private Pakistani airline that was founded in 2017 by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The airline was founded to connect Sialkot with the rest of the country by air to improve the region’s business prospects. AirSial flies to 14 domestic and international destinations with its fleet of 7 aircraft. 

AirSial offers seasonal flights to Madinah’s Prince Mohammad Bin AbdulAziz International Airport, making it easier for Umrah goers to travel to Saudi Arabia. The airline has an exciting menu for its in-flight meals, where each dish comes with a sufficient quantity. AirSial is also commended by passengers for its exceptional customer service. 

Top Airlines in Pakistan 

Skytrax is a renowned consultancy that analyzes the quality of airlines and airports of the world. Skytrax’s rating is a good indicator of the quality of an airline. The organization also gives awards to the top airlines annually, an accolade coveted by various airlines of the world. Based on Skytrax’s rating, the following airlines are considered the top ones in Pakistan: 

While Pakistani airlines are making great strides, they have yet to make a mark internationally. For now, Qatar Airways is the top-rated airline currently operating in Pakistan based on quality of service. 

Conclusion 

Various airlines offer regular flights to Pakistanis for different parts of the world. You can also find multiple flights for domestic destinations regularly. However, to get the best quality services, it is crucial to know which airline provides the best flying experience to its passengers. The above guide can help you decide on an airline the next time you are flying domestically or internationally from Pakistan. 

FAQs

Which is the No 1 airline in Pakistan?

Qatar Airways is the number 1 airline currently operating in Pakistan based on the Skytrax rating. As for the local airlines, PIA is the one with the best quality services for its passengers. PIA is also the biggest airline of Pakistan, as well as the country’s flag carrier. 

How many Boeing 777 PIA have?

PIA currently has 12 Boeing 777 in its fleet, including six Boeing 777-200ER and four Boeing 777-320ER.