Pakistan’s AirBlue takes delivery of maiden A321neo

AirBlue (PA, Karachi Int’l) took delivery of its first A321-200N on Friday, October 15, after AP-BOE (msn 10162) arrived at Karachi Int’l from Hamburg Finkenwerder. The new-build jet will be followed by another aircraft of the type, msn 9560, later this year, lessor GECAS said.

Both jets were originally due to have been added over a year ago but were delayed on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At present, the Pakistani carrier operates four A320-200s and five A321-200s on scheduled flights throughout Pakistan as well as to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. According to local media, AirBlue will use its A321neo to run Umrah flights to Saudi Arabia and to start new services to Turkey and Europe. No Pakistani carrier can currently serve the European Union (EU) using its own metal given the country’s blacklisting by EASA.