Pakistan’s aviation industry got a big boost recently. A Senate panel has supported new airline South Air’s plans to fly to popular northern destinations like Gilgit, Skardu, and Chitral.
South Air is a new private airline that is getting ready to start full operations. It uses small and efficient ATR 72 aircraft, which are perfect for short routes and smaller airports in hilly areas. The airline first began services on southern and central routes connecting cities like Karachi, Quetta, Gwadar, Turbat, Multan, and Sukkur. Now it wants to expand to the beautiful northern regions.
The Senate Standing Committee on Defence gave its backing to this expansion during a recent meeting. Lawmakers believe better air links will help tourists visit these scenic areas more easily. Gilgit, Skardu, and Chitral are famous for their mountains, lakes, and adventure tourism. Improved flights will also benefit local businesses, create jobs, and support the economy.
Officials from South Air say they plan to start flights to these northern cities by the end of June 2026, starting from Islamabad and possibly Lahore. The move is part of efforts to make air travel affordable and accessible across Pakistan, especially to areas that were hard to reach before.
This expansion is good news for travelers and the tourism sector. It shows growing confidence in Pakistan’s private aviation industry.
