Flydubai begins operations in Pakistan’s northwest as first flight lands in Peshawar

Passengers check in ahead of their flight to Dubai, at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar on May 15, 2025. (Photo courtesy: CAA)
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Updated 16 May 2025
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Flydubai begins operations in Pakistan’s northwest as first flight lands in Peshawar

  • Peshawar is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, which features several cultural and historical landmarks
  • Flydubai will operate daily flights between Dubai and Peshawar, offering customers ‘more options for travel’

ISLAMABAD: Flydubai, an Emirati government-owned airline, has launched its daily flights to the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, the Pakistani Airports Authority (PAA) said on Friday.

Peshawar in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has a rich history that makes it one of the oldest cities in South Asia. Peshawar features cultural landmarks like the historic Bala Hisar Fort and the Qissa Khwani Bazaar, which once served as a gathering places for traders and poets.

The inaugural flydubai flight arrived at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport at around 12:30am on Friday, carrying 164 passengers, according to the PAA. It was given a water cannon salute upon arrival at the airport, followed by a ceremony to mark the start of airline operations in Peshawar.

“Flight FZ-375 departed back to Dubai at 2:20am with 184 passengers,” the PAA said in a statement. “Flydubai will operate seven flights a week.”




Officials celebrate the inaugural flight of UAE’s flydubai operations between Peshawar and Dubai at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar on May 15, 2025. (Photo courtesy: CAA)

Flydubai has built a growing network of more than 130 destinations, 97 of which were underserved markets and did not previously have direct air links to Dubai, according to the airline, which has a fleet of 89 Boeing 737 aircraft.

The airline first started operating flights to Pakistan in 2010 with the launch of flights to the southern port city of Karachi. In addition to Islamabad and Lahore, the carrier also flies to Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot cities of Pakistan.

Flydubai this month said its flights to Peshawar airport will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB).

“Flydubai will operate a daily service between Dubai and Peshawar, offering customers from the UAE and the region more options for travel,” it said.


Pakistan launches second indigenous EO-2 satellite from China, SUPARCO says

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Pakistan launches second indigenous EO-2 satellite from China, SUPARCO says

  • Earth observation satellite launched from Yangjiang Seashore Launch Center in China
  • EO-2 to enhance disaster response, governance, resource management capabilities

KARACHI: Pakistan has successfully launched its second indigenous Earth Observation satellite, EO-2, from China’s Yangjiang Seashore Launch Center, the national space agency SUPARCO said on Thursday.

The launch marks a significant step in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its domestic space and remote sensing capabilities, with the satellite expected to improve imaging continuity, disaster monitoring, agricultural planning and strategic resource management.

In a statement, Pakistan’s SUPARCO said the EO-2 satellite would enhance the country’s earth observation and imaging capabilities and support governance and planning functions across multiple sectors.

“Pakistan’s second indigenous EO-2 satellite has been successfully launched,” SUPARCO said, adding that the mission represents a “milestone” in the expansion of the country’s satellite fleet.

According to the agency, EO-2 will provide critical data for planning and resource management while improving the continuity and accuracy of national earth observation systems.

The satellite is expected to support disaster management, urban planning, environmental monitoring and infrastructure development by supplying updated geospatial imagery and data.

SUPARCO said the launch demonstrates growing indigenous capability in satellite development and reflects Pakistan’s broader objective of strengthening its national space program through locally developed platforms.

Pakistan has gradually expanded its space cooperation with China in recent years, including satellite launches and joint missions, as Islamabad seeks to build technical capacity and reduce reliance on external data sources.

The EO-2 satellite is expected to play a key role in improving data availability for federal and provincial authorities, particularly in areas vulnerable to floods, climate stress and rapid urbanization.