If you count only scheduled domestic carriers based in Pakistan the number is 5. If you add foreign airlines that operate flights to/from Pakistan the total of active operators you’ll see in most flight databases is about 42 (5 domestic + ~37 foreign). If you include charter, cargo and small niche operators the universe grows to ~50+. Wikipedia

Below I explain each category, show exactly where the numbers come from, and give practical takeaways for travelers and site owners.

1) What “counts” as an airline?

Before we quote numbers, define categories:

• Domestic scheduled carriers (based in Pakistan) — airlines with scheduled passenger flights and an AOC (air operator certificate) issued in Pakistan (e.g., PIA).

• International/foreign carriers operating to Pakistan — non-Pakistani airlines that have scheduled services to Pakistani airports (e.g., Emirates).

• Charter, cargo and private operators — companies that fly only charters, cargo or private jets (sometimes seasonal or on-demand).

• Defunct / paused carriers — airlines that may be grounded, suspended, or ceased operations and should not be counted as “active.”

Different sources count different sets; I’ll be explicit which I’m quoting. Wikipedia

2) Domestic scheduled airlines (based in Pakistan) — 5

As of 2025 the primary scheduled passenger carriers registered and operating in Pakistan are:

1. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) — national flag carrier.

2. Airblue — private, established major domestic & regional operator.

3. SereneAir — relatively new, domestic network and some international service.

4. AirSial — Sialkot-founded carrier with domestic and growing international routes.

5. Fly Jinnah — low-cost carrier (partnership model) focusing on domestic/regional traffic.

This list is the standard “domestic scheduled airlines” list used by aviation directories and Wikipedia. Counting only carriers headquartered in Pakistan with scheduled passenger services yields 5. Wikipedia

Why this matters for travelers: if you’re booking domestic travel and want Pakistan-based airlines, these five are your main options (price, schedule, route coverage differ). Use local comparison sites (e.g., ApniTicket.pk) to compare them. (Internal: https://apniticket.pk/)

3) Foreign airlines flying to/from Pakistan — ~37 (as listed by flight databases)

Flight route aggregators (which track scheduled routes and airline timetables) list around 36–37 international carriers operating flights in and out of Pakistan in 2025. These include major Middle Eastern, Gulf and Asian carriers such as:

• Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Saudia, Flydubai, Air Arabia, and several Chinese and regional carriers. FlightConnections+1

Combined figure (scheduled domestic + foreign scheduled):
5 (domestic) + ~37 (foreign operating to Pakistan) = ~42 airlines with scheduled operations touching Pakistan.

Traveler tip: even if a foreign airline is listed as “operating” to Pakistan, routes can be seasonal or temporarily suspended due to NOTAMs, geopolitics, or route adjustments — always verify current schedules when booking. Profit by Pakistan Today

4) Charter, cargo & niche operators — add ~5–15 more (depends)

Beyond scheduled airlines there are charter firms, cargo operators and corporate jet services registered in Pakistan (examples: Princely Jets, ASKARI Aviation, ASSL). These are not full scheduled carriers but are operational players — add them if you want the full industry picture. Aviation wikis and Pakistan aviation directories list these operators; including them pushes the count into the 50+ range if you also include small cargo outfits and service companies. pakistaniaviation.fandom.com+1

5) Why the count moves around — 6 real-world reasons

1. New entrants and startups — small carriers launch (e.g., Fly Jinnah recently). Wikipedia

2. Seasonal or paused services — foreign carriers may suspend routes (e.g., operational pauses after regional incidents). Profit by Pakistan Today

3. Charter/cargo vs scheduled — directories may or may not count charters/cargo. pakistaniaviation.fandom.com

4. Regulatory changes — PCAA approvals, safety audits, or bans (EASA actions in recent years) change which aircraft/airlines operate. Reuters

5. Privatization & restructuring — PIA’s corporate moves and fleet changes alter route footprints. Reuters

6. Data source differences — Wikipedia, FlightConnections and national CAA lists use slightly different inclusion rules. Wikipedia+2FlightConnections+2

6) Practical numbers & table (quick reference)

7) What this means for you (traveler & website owner)

• If you’re booking flights: compare the 5 domestic carriers for local legs and use international carriers for overseas travel. Use a reliable local OTA (like ApniTicket.pk) to compare both domestic and international options and alternative payment gateways. (Internal: https://apniticket.pk/essential-tips-for-finding-the-best-flight-tickets)

• If you run travel content: use the 5 domestic names as anchors, then link to up-to-date route lists (FlightConnections) and CAA pages for credibility. Keep a dynamic widget or periodic refresh of the “number of airlines” because the international count changes with route openings/closures. FlightConnections+1

8) Sources & live verification

Key references used for the figures above (most load-bearing items):

• Wikipedia — List of airlines of Pakistan (scheduled & charter lists). Wikipedia

• FlightConnections — Airlines flying from Pakistan (shows ~37 carriers). FlightConnections+1

• Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) — regulator (best source for official AOC/registrations). pcaa.gov.pk

• Reuters — recent reporting on PIA financial turnaround and restructuring context. Reuters

• Local aviation directories / fandom pages for charter/cargo operator lists. pakistaniaviation.fandom.com+1

9) Want an exact live number on your site?

I can build a small widget (server + cron) that:

• Queries FlightConnections / OAG / or an airport API for current carriers, and

• Shows a live “Airlines operating in Pakistan: X” metric on your site (auto-refresh daily).

This is the best way to keep accuracy for readers and outrank competitors who show stale counts. Want me to build that and wire it to your ApniTicket site?