KARACHI:
After a gap of 12 years, Bhoja Air will get back up in the air from Tuesday as it re-launches local operations with an introductory price of Rs2,000 without taxes to all destinations, Bhoja Air Chairman Muhammad Farouk Bhoja said on Saturday.
The airline plans to start four flights connecting Karachi to Sukkur, Multan, Lahore and Islamabad.
The company has a fleet of five 737-200s and 737-400s aircrafts while two more will be added by April when flights to Dubai from both Karachi and Lahore start, the chairman said.
“We have plans to run flights from Karachi and Lahore to the US, UK, Kuwait and Qatar as well,” he added.
Bhoja’s first stint started on November 1993 and came to an end on October 2000 when it was grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority for failing to clear its dues.
The airline took one of the aircrafts out for a test flight on Saturday from Karachi to Lahore with officials of the civil aviation authority and media onboard. Air traffic was growing at a meagre 12% annually in Pakistan due to insufficient and improper transport rail and road transport, the chairman added. with additional input by APP
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (30)
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When i had posted my comment on 5March this is what i had feared.Such airlines just want to make quick buck and would compromise on safety Standards by cutting costs .I am sure bhoja air must have used all back door channels to restart the operations.If we go into the history of this particular B737-200 we will discover the cause of the crash.
Today when i am writing, bhooja air aircraft 737-200 has already crashed. what a great thinking as if u knew all the things before. but why not the law makers and the concerned authorities donot read and listen to the people. i wonder if we are supposed to use the discarded.
In comments on March 4, in Tribune I expressed my compliments to Mr. Farooq Bhoja saying as per safety, security standards stipulated by ICAO (International Civil Airlines Organisation) Montreal. The crash yesterday is not an accident. It could be negilence. In times of failure of the terrestrial network rail/road Bhoja splashed. and did it on time. They could be like Ryannair, or any major APEX airline. This is short sightedness, of a merchant. This is an example for new licensees of CAA, to be ware. Again the monopoly of flag carrier of PIA, and Pakistan railway on the rail/road.
This is very set back and tragic incident yesterday when bhoja air carrying 127 persons crashes into ground near rawalpindi. CAA must be held responsible for this. How come they approve such planes that are dumped by international aviation authorities. need critical reforms in the aviation industry.
@Taimur: well said..129 lives losts..Well started bhoja air..129 people are murdered by Bhoja Air.
Dear All, actually I am sure this is a much awaited Zardari Airline and the reason of PIA bad services. Infact Media gave so much hipe to that he is launching Airline, therefore, now sharp person come up with the Bhoja again. but in backhand he is the owner.
What do you think..?
Good luck bhoja air .. Inshallah BHOJA will become pakistan best private airline very soon Inshallah
@Meekal Ahmed:
Well Said Sir. Meekal Ahmed, When People don't know about their own country and its history...they just Speak-ill!
@Sunny:
Your comment about "old" pilots is unwarranted and dumb.
The age of a pilot has nothing to do with flight safety. Otherwise the retirement age of commercial aviation pilots would not have been INCREASED to 65 (from 60) after careful deliberation and study. Some want to push it further.
There is NO correlation between air accidents or incidents and the age of the pilot.
The Air Blue captain was only 61 years of age having being re-employed after retiring from PIA at age 60.
The first crash of a PIA jetliner was at Cairo, a Boeing 720B, registration AP-AMH, when PIA's number one pilot in seniority Captain A. A. Khan landed short of the runway. A CFIT. He was middle-aged.
The second crash at Khatmandu had nothing to do with the pilots age. It was a CFIT.
Nor did the accident at Taif, Saudi Arabia have anything to do with age. Captain Khalid Wyne was a personal friend of mine and was very young and just married. He had also just obtained his command status on the Boeing 707.
The crashes in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and East Pakistan were not age-related.
The crash of the F.27 at Multan was not age-related either.
Nor were the recent crashes of the Polish Presidential flight in Russia (the Captain was only 35) or Air India Express (Captain was from Serbia, middle-age) or recently in the US (Colgan Air operated by Contental Airlines) have anything to do with age.
If you do not know the facts and thrive on rumors, inaccurate information and gossip, please do not lead readers astray with your conspiracy theories about "old" pilots.
The next time they see a pilot with grey hair, they are likely to freak out needlessly.
Thank you.
@Faredd Ahmed:
let them run a PRIVATE airline if they wish. If they lose money at least the government is not obliged to subsidize them (like PIA) and keep them afloat. Let them go bankrupt and float away in the mist of time.
In Pakistan we had private airlines like Aeroasia,Hajveri and Bhoja about 10 to 12 years back and all of them ditch the airline industry and ranaway without clearing millions of dues for CAA and of other lenders and suppliers.Running the airline with outdated B737-200s is to fool the travelling passengers once again.The flights shall be frequently delayed,will have many cancellations etc.The reborn airline wil once again default on payments to CAA and other lenders.If Kingfisher airline of India with 64 aircraft; with better regulated and bigger market is in loss of over $80/00 Million ,what magic Bhja Air has to be a sucessful in Pakustan.Airblue which has numbers seniors old officers of PIAC and Shaheen Air which intially had full support of PAF has not able to make a good name so far in Airline Industry.Running a private air line in Pakistan has not been a good experience.
Last delivery of a 737-200 advanced series aircraft was in August 1988 to Xiamen Airlines.
So the aircraft of Bhojo Air by this count is atleast 23 years old
While the world is flying 800 and above series of 737 Bhoja got redundant series of 200. I thought they will come back with new spirit and at least new planes. Old airline with old planes and I hope not with too old pilots. We have not forgotten airblue's margalla crash!
Good luck to you. When nothing is restarting and you are doing, its great. Please ensure that procedures are in place for the safety of people.
a GOOD INITIATIVE by Booja to offset air fares.
Finally, Aviation industry is on the boom in Pakland. I hope all safety matters are well addressed before their take off in their actual vintage 737-200 dumped by rest of the world. These scrap aircraft are only flying in Pakistan only by generous courtesy of Civil Aviation Authority in Pakistan.
Good Luck & Happy landings
@Interconnect Partners:
What is this comment supposed to mean?!
Congratulations Mr. Farook Bhoja on your move of despair. When it would take decades to upgrade/lay high speed rail track infrastructure. This track operational cannot be extended on the speed, safety. Ryanair and likes which operates APEX, charter services at very competitive prices. Turkish was an excellent deal to the survival of the flag carrier dinosaur. It is understood the safety is in adherence to ICAO safety regulations. Please see the giant Chinese aircraft manufacturer state owned will splash with the likes of Boeing 737 and A320B with GE, Honeywell and lot of advanced features than Boeing, Airbus will be flying the skies within three years. On the pattern of Embraer, Bombardier. The infrastructure would take ages for the railway to upgrade. Todays aviation technology can easily take a passenger to on A380 from Karachi to Lahore for Rs.2000-00 to full capacity traffic, which railway whether private, or Govt. will take years. Mr. Farook Bhoja you have now splashed the airwaves, and I hope you will remain and retain the goodwill, safety and will be a regional APEX airlines operator. The spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, benefit to the customer, and to the stake holders as well is very important. Good luck
1999/- means 1999 + 4500(tax +fuel surcharge etc...)
which comes to 6500/- all inclusive.
also this is simpally a marketing gimmic, a strategy to attract more people to their airline in the initial launch. to fill seats. i doubt they can profitably sustain the 1999/- offer for more than a few weeks at best...
Editor. Please ensure you put the correct aircraft picture. The Boeing 737 series 200 and 400 which your story suggests Bhoja will be using are not 4 engined aircraft as shown in your photograph!
There is no such thing as an "old" aircraft -- if well maintained.
However, the -200 model of the 737 that they will be flying must be at least 27 years old. It is an "Advanced" model so there must be some up-grades in the cockpit systems but that is about all. I would imagine it is uncomfortable and noisy and very fuel inefficient.
The -400 is a more advanced version of 737 family -- the best-selling aircraft in history.
Maybe the CAA should have a rule about age of aircraft. If not their over-sight should be very sharp with frequent surprise audits and inspections. But they are sadly, just another incompetent government department, filled with retired fauji's enjoying free travel.
Air traffic is growing a "meagre" 12%? There is nothing meagre about that but I believe the correct growth figure is 17%.
Beware cheap fares. If they are really cheap you can be sure the airline is cutting costs somewhere -- usually in areas affecting flight safety.
Pl dont fly these old planes, ppl lives are more important than your offer.
To start a new airline is not a big deal, the thing which is really matters is how much it is safe to fly with. But usually safety standard are violated in the national air lines, despite the fact that there are only two states, either in the air or under the ground. I wonder on insanity or bravery, i don't know, of people who fly in national air lines, owing to the fact its engines can fail at any time.
I hope Bhoja Air will be a good addition to the aviation industry of Pakistan. this airline will be a great blow to those who are presently looting the passenger with higher fares but low quality of service. .
I hear Kingfisher Airline in India is going belly-up and today Bhoja Air in Pakistan is strting up again. Forces one to think how ? why ? for how long ? Best of Luck anyway .
I suspect your carriers are not worth flying, please get these tested before you fly in the air. Rs. 2,000/ without taxes, unbelievable.
People add taxes to 2000 please!!!!! Makes the same amount roughly that PIA charges.
lol 2k +7k tax for ticket
Amazing, the newly introduced Business Express (Train) is charging Rs.5000 for Karachi to Lahore journey.Whereas Bhoja Air has announced its fare as low as Rs 2,000 no matter this is an introductory fare. I wonder then who will travel by Business Express whose operations are already in the doldrums.