# AirSial

AirSial (Urdu: ایئر سیال) is a Pakistani private airline based in Sialkot, inaugurated on 9 December 2020. Air Sial had its first domestic flight on December 25, 2020, and started flying internationally, with King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah as its first destination, on 29 March 2023. International operations were extended to Muscat in Oman from June 2023.

## History

The concept of Air Sial was first mentioned on February 24 2008 by Sialkot International Airport Limited chairman Babar Iqbal who announced the establishment of their "own airline for providing cheaper and advanced travelling facilities on domestic and international routes". Babar Iqbal said that the airline would be set up under the joint supervision of SIAL and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
AirSial was launched by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry to improve air travel to and from the Sialkot region, which is a major industrial city in the province of Punjab. The airline initially served domestic destinations within Pakistan from its operational hub at Sialkot International Airport using a fleet of 3 Airbus A320 aircraft, flying to other major airports within Pakistan. AirSial plans to further expand to destinations within the Middle East. On April 14 2016 the company Air Sial formally started the registration of directors of “Airsial” under the supervision of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Fazal Jillani took over as the patron-in-chief of the project. At the time Mr Jilani said, "he hoped that the new airline would begin its operation by the end of the current year (2018)". He also said that Air Sial's management would prefer to buy Boeing 737-800 aircraft for its domestic and international flight operations.
Later in June 2016, Mr Fazal Jillani said that “as many as 35 leading Overseas Pakistani investors have shown a keen interest in investing in the grand project of “Air Sial” airline.” The airline was registered by the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) as “Air Sial Limited” company.
In December 2016 Air Sial submitted its Regular Public Transport (RPT) request to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). On 27 October 2017 the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab, who was replying on behalf of the Minister for Aviation, said that a licence was granted to Air Sial Limited last month to start operations in Pakistan. According to Fazal Jillani, the license was received in the first week of October 2017. In the same interview, he said that "Air Sial shall take to air in May-June, 2018". In May 2018 Mr Jillani again gave a new date for the launch of operations. This time he said that "all the operational arrangements have been completed to ensure the early start of the airline before the end of this year (2018)". In December 2018 Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the operations of Air Sial. However, the airline did not launch its operations in December 2018. The launch plan was postponed to the first quarter of 2019 which was further delayed.

## Launching the airline operations

In August 2019 Air Sial's board of directors approved the lease agreement with Irish leasing giant Aercap to acquire 3 Airbus A320 aircraft. On 6 August 2019, Air Sial Executive Board Chairman Fazal Jillani signed an agreement with Aercap representatives. Fazal Jillani is the CEO of Surgicon Private Limited and a director on the Sialkot International Airport board. The airline's website became operational in September 2020. Throughout the year the airline continued hiring. The airline received its first 3 Airbus A320s registered in Pakistan as AP-BOA, AP-BOB and AP-BOC in November 2020 with the first Airbus A320, AP-BOA arriving at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on 29 November. The second Airbus A320, AP-BOB arrived on 5 December 2020 at Sialkot International Airport. On 11 December 2020, the third aircraft, AP-BOC arrived at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.
On 9 December 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated AirSial at Sialkot International Airport. This was not the launch of operations. Prominent Pakistani fashion designer Nomi Ansari designed Air Sial's crew uniforms. The airline's inaugural scheduled passenger flight operationed on 25 December with daily Airbus A320 flights between Karachi and Islamabad and between Karachi and Lahore. The first flight was PF121 to Islamabad which departed from Karachi early in the morning on 25 December.

## Destinations

AirSial operates flights to the following airports:
| Country | City | Airport | Status |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport | Starting soon on arrival of new aircraft |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | Kuwait International Airport | Starting soon on arrival of new aircraft |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur International Airport | Starting soon on arrival of new aircraft |
| Oman | Muscat | Muscat International Airport | |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | Islamabad International Airport | |
| Pakistan | Karachi | Jinnah International Airport | Focus city |
| Pakistan | Lahore | Allama Iqbal International Airport | |
| Pakistan | Peshawar | Bacha Khan International Airport | Terminated |
| Pakistan | Sialkot | Sialkot International Airport | Hub |
| Pakistan | Multan | Multan International Airport | |
| Qatar | Doha | Hamad International Airport | Starting soon on arrival of new aircraft |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo | Bandaranaike International Airport | Starting soon on arrival of new aircraft |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah | King Abdulaziz International Airport | |
| Riyadh | King Khalid International Airport | |
| Madinah | Prince Mohammad Bin AbdulAziz International Airport | Seasonal |
| Dammam | King Fahd International Airport | |
| Thailand | Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi Airport | Starting soon on arrival of new aircraft |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | Zayed International Airport | To be started in 2-3 months |

## Fleet
### Current fleet

The fleet operated by AirSial consists of the following aircraft.
Air Sial Fleet :
| Aircraft | In service | Orders |
| Airbus A320-200 | 6 | 4 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 1 | Leased |

### Fleet development

AirSial initially signed an agreement to lease three Airbus A320-200 aircraft from AerCap.
In an interview with PlaneSpottersPakistan, Chairman Fazal Jilani discussed the possibility of introducing Airbus A330 aircraft.
On 30 March 2022, AirSial announced an agreement with BOC Aviation for two more Airbus A320-200 aircraft on lease.

## Interior

Each Airbus A320 is fitted with a basic 3x3 layout in an all economy configuration, and has 180 seats.