Summary Private carrier South Air has announced plans to launch flights connecting Dera Ismail Khan and Chitral with major cities as it prepares nationwide operations this month.
PESHAWAR (Web Desk) – Private airline South Air has announced plans to launch flight operations connecting remote regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dera Ismail Khan and Chitral, with major cities across Pakistan as part of its domestic expansion strategy.
The announcement came during a meeting between South Air Chairman Kanwar Muhammad Tariq and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, where discussions focused on improving air connectivity and expanding aviation services in the province.
Speaking during the meeting, Tariq said the airline intends to operate daily flights to Dera Ismail Khan, describing the city as an important destination for the company’s future operations. He added that South Air also plans to launch regular services to Chitral as part of efforts to improve connectivity for smaller and remote regions.
“Our objective is to connect underserved areas of the country with the national air network,” Tariq said.
Governor Kundi assured the airline of full cooperation from the provincial administration and expressed confidence that the airline’s planned operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would prove successful.
According to the airline chairman, South Air is set to begin nationwide operations later this month after completing operational, technical and administrative preparations.
Besides services to DI Khan and Chitral, the airline also plans to operate routes linking Peshawar with Karachi, Lahore and Quetta, including daily flights between Peshawar and Lahore.
The developments come days after South Air conducted its first trial flight between Karachi and Gwadar, marking an important step toward improving connectivity in coastal areas.
Governor Kundi stressed that stronger air connectivity was necessary for promoting tourism, trade and investment in the province, calling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a major tourism destination with significant untapped potential.
He noted that several important regions in the province still lack adequate aviation facilities and said expanded air services could strengthen economic activity, tourism and employment opportunities.
The meeting also followed Kundi’s recent visit to Dera Ismail Khan International Airport, where Pakistan Airports Authority officials briefed him on ongoing rehabilitation work.
The governor said runway carpeting work had already been completed at the airport, which has remained closed since 2015, while remaining work would soon be finalized to restore operations.
He also revealed that the proposed Green Field International Airport project, spread across more than 1,700 acres, is expected to accommodate over one million passengers annually.
