LAHORE, November 4, 2026: Fly Jinnah has overtaken Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to become the country’s leading domestic carrier by passenger traffic, carrying nearly 1.97 million travellers during the 2024–25 financial year, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
The figures show Fly Jinnah transported 1.967 million passengers on domestic routes, ahead of PIA’s 1.851 million. Airblue ranked third with 1.004 million passengers, followed by AirSial with 813,000.
Pakistan’s aviation market currently comprises 37 airlines, including five domestic and 32 international operators. The local carriers listed in the report are Fly Jinnah, PIA, Airblue, AirSial and South Air. SereneAir has been out of operation since October 2025.
While Fly Jinnah leads domestic passenger traffic, international routes remain dominated by foreign airlines, which account for nearly two-thirds of revenue generated from overseas ticket sales in Pakistan.
Emirates holds the largest share of the international passenger market, estimated at 18–20 percent, and operates 39 weekly flights from Pakistan. Saudi Arabian Airlines operates 30 weekly flights, Qatar Airways 28 and Etihad Airways 23.
Pakistan’s international aviation market handles an estimated 15 million to 16 million passengers annually, making it a significant source of revenue for foreign carriers.
Emirates is estimated to generate approximately $1.2 billion annually from ticket sales in Pakistan, excluding cargo revenue. Qatar Airways earns an estimated $800 million to $900 million, while Saudi Arabian Airlines generates between $700 million and $750 million.
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has called for strengthening domestic airlines to help them compete more effectively on international routes and retain a greater share of aviation revenue within the country.