Pakistan’s skies are getting busier — and for many travelers, that’s very good news. On Monday, South Air was officially launched as a new domestic airline, marking an important expansion in the country’s aviation sector and raising hopes for better connectivity and more affordable travel.
At the inaugural ceremony, Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani hailed the launch as a “historic step” for Pakistan. He said South Air is not just another airline, but a much-needed link between smaller and underserved cities in South Punjab, interior Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — regions that often feel left behind when it comes to infrastructure and investment.
South Air’s first flight is going to operate from Karachi to Multan, symbolically connecting the country’s economic hub with a historic cultural and commercial center. Gilani, who has a deep personal connection with Multan, said the airline would provide assistance to unlock the city’s economic, cultural, and tourism potential, making it easier for investors, students, families, and professionals to move in and out of the region.
He also spoke candidly about an issue every Pakistani traveler knows too well: high ticket prices. Yusaf kept on urging the management of South Air to keep fares as affordable as possible, noting that even parliamentarians sometimes have to face various issues with the cost of domestic flights.
Read more: Lahore to Islamabad route set as first operational corridor for Air Punjab airline
South Air can make air travel accessible not just to business elites by offering reasonable prices but also to middle- and lower-income families, students, and workers who need to travel long distances quickly.
Executives from South Air, along with lawmakers, business leaders, and officials, were there in the ceremony in a hopeful mood. Airline representatives said they plan to gradually expand their route network, adding more cities as operations stabilize. While Karachi–Multan is the starting point, future connections could include routes linking
- Quetta
- Sukkur
- Faisalabad
- Gwadar
- Peshawar
With the access to these underserved destinations, people will have faster alternatives to long and tiring road or train journeys.
Beyond convenience, the new airline is expected to stimulate local economies. Better air links can captivate investment
- Support tourism
- Create jobs in aviation
- Hospitality
- Services
For remote and smaller cities, a new flight connection can mean quicker access to
- Healthcare
- Education
- Government services
For now, South Air’s launch is bringing a sense of optimism: more choice for passengers, more competition in the aviation sector, and a small but meaningful step toward a more connected and inclusive Pakistan.