Naveed Siddiqui
Karachi: Emirates today marks 25 years of successful operations in Peshawar, Pakistan’s sixth largest city. Since the inaugural flight on July 14, 1998, Emirates has carried over 1.8 million passengers between Dubai and Peshawar and lifted more than 25,000 tonnes of cargo, supporting travel and trade through the export of commodities.
In 1998, the inaugural flight landed at Bacha Khan International Airport, becoming the second Pakistani city served by the airline and, since then, the airline has ensured seamless travel connectivity between Pakistan’s North Western city of Peshawar and Emirates’ network, including its hub city of Dubai.
Emirates currently offers five weekly flights to passengers from Peshawar operated with a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft, capable of carrying up to 428 passengers and 20 tonnes of cargo in the bellyhold.
Jeddah has emerged as the most popular destination for passengers traveling from and to Peshawar. Hajj and Umrah travel to Medina was also very frequent over the years while the UK (Manchester, London and Birmingham), Turkey, Germany and France were popular amongst leisure travellers and students pursuing higher education abroad. Business and corporate travellers frequented popular points in China, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. Top Middle East destinations and points of origin include Dammam, Kuwait City, Baghdad, Tehran, Doha and Istanbul, while the US, Canada, South Africa and Egypt are also amongst the top destinations for travellers from Peshawar.
On the occasion of the airline’s 25th anniversary of operations in Peshawar, Mohammed Alhashmi, Emirates’ Vice President for Pakistan said “As one of the longest-serving international carriers in Peshawar, Emirates has continuously strived to provide exceptional services, unparalleled connectivity, and a seamless travel experience to its valued passengers. Over the past 25 years, Emirates has witnessed significant growth, firmly establishing itself as a trusted and preferred airline for both business and leisure travelers. We take great pride in being a catalyst for economic growth, tourism, and cultural exchange, and we are excited to further strengthen our relationship with the wonderful people of Peshawar. We would also like to thank all our partners and key stakeholders for their continued support which has made our successful operations possible.”
Total kilometres clocked by Emirates’ aircrafts travelling in and out of Peshawar since operations began is 13.8 million kilometres – enough to travel the world roughly around 370 times. Over the same period Emirates operated close to 7,500 flights to and from the city.
Facilitator of Trade and ties with the UAE
The airline has also been a facilitator of trade between Peshawar and the world, supporting local industries and businesses. With its vast cargo network and state-of-the-art facilities, Emirates SkyCargo has been instrumental in enabling seamless transportation of goods, promoting export opportunities, and stimulating economic development in the country. Peshawar has also proven to be an important cargo destination for the airline in Pakistan, having recorded over 25,000 tonnes of cargo carriage in the last 25 years. Key exports over the years included perishable items such as fruits and vegetables, chilled meat, spices, textiles, and garments while imports include medical equipment, pharma products, mobile phones, personal effects and household goods.
The UAE and Pakistan enjoy historic ties which date back to the UAE’s formation in 1971. The UAE is Pakistan’s second largest trading partner and Pakistanis comprise more than 12.5% of the UAE’s population (1.3 million) according to statistics in 2023, representing the second highest national group in the UAE’s demographics. UAE residents originating from Peshawar comprise a significant portion of Pakistanis living in the UAE.
Services to Peshawar and Pakistan
Emirates remains dedicated to providing Peshawar with its world-class services, comfort, and connectivity. As the airline marks this significant milestone, it remains committed to the city, its people, and to facilitating trade.
Emirates and Pakistan share a special relationship, which goes back almost 38 years when its first ever flight from Dubai landed in Karachi on 25th October 1985. Since then, this historic partnership has continued to flourish with Emirates currently operating over 50 weekly flights to five Pakistani cities including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Sialkot, which continue to be an integral part of the airline’s network.
Travellers flying with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, thanks to regionally-inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs and complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can sit back and relax with more than 6,500 channels of carefully curated global entertainment content featuring movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. Travellers can select from regional content including Urdu, Pashto and Punjabi content to keep them entertained on flights.
