Airblue Logo PNG
Airblue: Brand overview
In the early 2000s, Tariq Chodri had an idea to start Pakistan’s first private budget airline. He called it Airblue and registered it in Islamabad in June 2003. With a $20 million investment, Chodri aimed to offer affordable flights, similar to successful low-cost airlines worldwide.
By December 2003, Airblue got its operating certificate and brought in its first three Airbus A320s, all set up for economy class to keep prices low. The airline’s first flight took from Karachi to Islamabad on June 18, 2004. Soon, it started more routes across Pakistan, competing with the government-run Pakistan International Airlines.
From 2005 to 2006, Airblue began flying to international destinations like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar, adding new Airbus A321s to its fleet. By 2007, Airblue was flying to over 25 places with 16 planes. However, in 2010, a tragic crash on a flight from Karachi to Islamabad killed 152 people, hurting the airline’s reputation and finances.
Between 2012 and 2014, Airblue faced tough times and was close to going bankrupt. New investors and a strong crisis plan helped it recover. In 2015, the airline updated its fleet with more efficient Airbus A320neos and restarted some old routes.
Airblue has 15 planes and runs about 15 routes, with 250 weekly flights. Tariq Chodri is still the CEO, and the airline’s headquarters are in Islamabad. Airblue keeps focusing on offering low-cost flights in Pakistan and the Persian Gulf, adapting to changes in global air travel. This shows its dedication to making flying affordable and accessible, continuing to lead Pakistan’s aviation market.
Meaning and History
What is Airblue?
Pakistan’s Airblue was founded in 2003 by Pakistani-American information technology professional Tariq Chaudhry. The private airline’s head office is conveniently located on the first floor of the Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) in the heart of Islamabad, Pakistan. The airline has established itself as a reliable provider of domestic and international flights, particularly to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
2003 – today
In the Airblue logo, the designers cleverly played with the company’s name by coloring the word “blue” in an appropriate shade associated with the sky and freedom. This part of the inscription stands out against the background of thin gray letters “a,” “i,” and “r.” The word “air” looks light, as if about to take off. All glyphs are typed in lowercase letters and have no serifs.
The contrast of font weight and color has a purpose. The bold, blue “blue” stands for reliability and depth – characteristics often sought in an airline. The lighter, thinner “air” embodies the theme of easy and relaxed travel. The absence of serifs gives the overall design a modern feel, making it sleek and up-to-date.
FAQ
Who is the owner of Airblue?
Tariq Chaudhary, a Pakistani-American IT professional, started Airblue in 2003. His goal was to make a big difference in Pakistan’s aviation industry. The airline began flying on June 18, 2004. It used three leased Airbus A320-200 planes at first. These planes flew from Karachi to Lahore and Karachi to Islamabad. Airblue offers three flights every day. This approach helped the airline build a reputation for reliable and efficient service. Chaudhary’s knowledge of IT played a key role in developing Airblue. Under his direction, Airblue grew by adding more planes and starting flights to international destinations.
Is Airblue profitable?
Airblue is making money. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, talked to Dawn and shared that the airline’s gross profit rose from Rs 64 million to Rs 448 million this year, a 600 percent increase. The big jump in profit shows that Airblue is doing well financially and managing its operations effectively.
Which country owns Airblue?
Airblue Limited is a private airline owned by Pakistan. Its main office is in the Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers, the capital city. The airline was started to meet the increasing need for air travel within Pakistan and to other countries. It has grown to become the second-largest airline in Pakistan. Airblue focuses mainly on flights within Pakistan and flies to some international destinations.
