Domestic Flights in Pakistan: Airlines, Routes, Baggage and Booking Guide
Five airlines run domestic flights in Pakistan right now: PIA, AirSial, Airblue, Fly Jinnah and South Air. They all serve the big three cities, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, but they differ a lot on baggage, schedules and smaller cities.
This guide covers who flies where, what each airline lets you carry, when fares climb, and what to do at the airport. Fares move almost daily with fuel costs and the rupee, so we don't list fixed prices here. Each route link below opens a page with today's lowest fare by airline.
Which airlines run domestic flights in Pakistan?
| Airline | Type | Aircraft | Best known for | Book |
| PIA | National carrier, full service | Airbus A320, ATR | Widest network, including smaller cities and the north | PIA flights |
| AirSial | Private, full service | Airbus A320 | 20 kg checked bag on every ticket; Sialkot, Peshawar, Quetta, Skardu | AirSial flights |
| Airblue | Private, fare bundles | Airbus A320 family | Choice of cheap no-bag fare or bundles with 20 or 30 kg | Airblue flights |
| Fly Jinnah | Low-cost (Lakson Group and Air Arabia) | Airbus A320 | Low base fares; added Lahore to Islamabad and Lahore to Quetta in May 2026 | Fly Jinnah flights |
| South Air | New regional airline, flying since 16 July 2026 | ATR 72 turboprop | Smaller cities such as Bahawalpur, Gwadar and Quetta from Karachi | Search on Sooperfare |
If you want the bag included and fewer surprises, look at AirSial or PIA. If you travel light, Fly Jinnah's and Airblue's basic fares are often lower.
Which airlines fly the popular domestic routes?
Karachi to Islamabad and Karachi to Lahore are the busiest routes, and all the main airlines fly them. Smaller routes often have only one or two airlines, so seats there sell out faster.
| Route | Airlines | Flight time |
| Islamabad to Karachi | PIA, AirSial, Airblue, Fly Jinnah, South Air | 2 hrs |
| Karachi to Islamabad | PIA, AirSial, Airblue, Fly Jinnah, South Air | 2 hrs |
| Lahore to Karachi | PIA, AirSial, Airblue, Fly Jinnah | 1 hr 55 min |
| Karachi to Lahore | PIA, AirSial, Airblue, Fly Jinnah | 2 hrs |
| Karachi to Peshawar | AirSial, Fly Jinnah | 1 hr 50 min |
| Karachi to Quetta | PIA, AirSial, South Air | 1 hr 20 min |
| Islamabad to Skardu | PIA, AirSial, Airblue | 1 hr 10 min |
| Sialkot to Karachi | Fly Jinnah | 1 hr 50 min |
| Lahore to Islamabad | Fly Jinnah (twice daily since May 2026) | 45 min |
Tap a route to see today's lowest fare from each airline. More airline pages: Fly Jinnah Islamabad to Karachi, Airblue Karachi to Islamabad, Airblue Lahore to Karachi, PIA Karachi to Lahore.
Skardu flights depend on the weather in the mountains and can be cancelled at short notice. Keep a spare day in your plan.
How much baggage can you take on a domestic flight?
PIA, AirSial, Airblue and Fly Jinnah all allow 7 kg of hand carry. The big difference is checked baggage: some fares include none.
| Airline | Hand carry | Checked baggage |
| AirSial | 7 kg | 20 kg on every ticket (max 32 kg per bag) |
| PIA | 7 kg | Included in economy; amount depends on your fare, so check the ticket |
| Airblue | 7 kg | Value: none. Flexi: 20 kg. Xtra: 30 kg |
| Fly Jinnah | 7 kg + 3 kg | Basic: none. Value: 23 kg. Ultimate: 46 kg |
| South Air | Check at booking | Check at booking |
If you are carrying a suitcase, compare fares with the bag included. A no-bag fare that looks cheaper can end up costing more once you add 20 kg at the airport.
When do domestic fares go up, and how can you pay less?
Domestic fares in Pakistan change with fuel prices and the rupee, so the same seat can cost very different amounts from one week to the next. A few patterns hold every year, though.
Busy times to plan around:
- Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. Seats on Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad routes fill up early and the cheapest fares go first.
- December and January. Winter holidays and weddings push up demand, and fog in Lahore and Islamabad can delay or cancel flights.
- June and July. School holidays and summer trips north, especially to Skardu.
Ways to pay less:
- Book two to three weeks ahead for normal dates, and earlier for Eid.
- Be flexible by a day or two. Midweek dates are often cheaper than Friday or Sunday.
- Check both directions. On many routes one direction is much cheaper than the other, so two one-way tickets can beat a return.
- Compare with your baggage included, not just the base fare.
- Check the route page on the day you book. It shows the lowest recent fare for each airline side by side.
What do you need at the airport for a domestic flight?
What ID you need:
- Pakistani adults: original CNIC or NICOP. A photo of it on your phone is not enough.
- Children: B-Form (CRC). Carry it even if the airline doesn't ask at booking.
- Foreign nationals: valid passport.
The name on your ticket must match your ID exactly. Fixing a spelling mistake later can cost a change fee.
Check-in:
- Reach the airport about 2 hours before a domestic flight, and earlier during Eid or at Islamabad, which is a long drive from the city.
- Your ticket shows when check-in closes. If you miss it, the airline can refuse boarding even if the plane hasn't left.
- Online check-in saves time if you only have hand carry.
Main airports:
| City | Airport | Code |
| Karachi | Jinnah International Airport | KHI |
| Lahore | Allama Iqbal International Airport | LHE |
| Islamabad | Islamabad International Airport | ISB |
| Peshawar | Bacha Khan International Airport | PEW |
| Quetta | Quetta International Airport | UET |
| Multan | Multan International Airport | MUX |
| Sialkot | Sialkot International Airport | SKT |
| Skardu | Skardu International Airport | KDU |
How do you book a domestic flight on Sooperfare?
- Go to Sooperfare flights and enter your cities, date and passengers.
- Compare airlines side by side, and check what baggage each fare includes.
- Enter names exactly as on the CNIC or B-Form, then pay online.
- Your e-ticket arrives by email. For help, call or WhatsApp +92 311 1101733.
Related guides:
- AirSial vs PIA vs Fly Jinnah vs Airblue: Islamabad to Karachi (add Blog 1 URL once live)
- 6 mistakes to avoid when flying Karachi to Islamabad
- Best time to book Lahore to Karachi flights
- Karachi to Quetta flights: complete booking guide
- Common flight booking mistakes and how to avoid them
FAQs
Which airlines fly domestic in Pakistan? Five: PIA, AirSial, Airblue, Fly Jinnah and South Air. South Air is the newest and started flying on 16 July 2026.
Which domestic airline includes checked baggage? AirSial includes 20 kg on every ticket, and PIA economy fares include checked baggage too. Airblue and Fly Jinnah sell cheaper fares without a checked bag.
How long is a flight from Karachi to Islamabad or Lahore? About 2 hours to either city.
What ID do I need for a domestic flight? Your original CNIC or NICOP. Children need a B-Form, and foreign nationals need a passport.
When are domestic flights most expensive? Around both Eids, in December and January, and in the June and July school holidays.
Where can I see today's domestic ticket prices? Open the route page on Sooperfare. It shows the lowest recent fare from each airline side by side.
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