Aero Asia International
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Ebrahim Tabani |
| Defunct | 19 May 2007 |
| Fate | Ceased operations due to regulatory suspension and insolvency |
| Headquarters | Karachi , Pakistan |
Area served | Domestic and international (Central Asia, Middle East, Pakistan) |
Key people | Ebrahim Tabani (founder) |
| Products | Scheduled passenger and cargo flights |
| Owner | Tabani Group (until 2006), then British Regal Group |
Aero Asia International—commonly referred to as AeroAsia—was a Karachi-based airline in Pakistan operating from 1993 until its cessation on 19 May 2007.
Established in 1993 by the Tabani Group, a business conglomerate of the Memon community, Aero Asia provided scheduled passenger and cargo flights serving both domestic and international locations, with a focus on destinations within the Gulf region. The airline was identified as a budget airline, utilizing a fleet that prominently featured jet aircraft and jumbo jets. In 2006, ownership transferred to the British Regal Group, but the carrier soon attracted criticism for inadequate adherence to safety protocols.
Due to managerial shortcomings and financial instability, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suspended Aero Asia's operations on 10 May 2007. The airline consistently failed to meet CAA's regulatory standards and passenger safety mandates. Although there were rumors about a potential revival, Aero Asia's headquarters officially declared insolvency shortly after the suspension.
History
Aero Asia International (Pvt) Ltd. was initiated by Ebrahim Tabani in 1993 amid Pakistan’s privatization efforts. Flight operations commenced on 4 May 1993. The airline assembled a team comprising seasoned former managers from Pakistan International Airlines alongside ex-Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy aviators. Initially, Aero Asia wet-leased two aircraft from Romanian Airlines, including a BAC 1-11 sourced from Romania’s VIP fleet that had previously served government officials during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s administration. Subsequently, four BAC 1-11s were acquired through lease-purchase agreements with TAROM, Romania’s national airline.
During its formative period, Aero Asia committed resources to developing local personnel training aligned with PIA benchmarks and civil aviation standards. The company established a cabin crew training academy staffed by senior retired PIA instructors, while recruiting former PAF airmen as pilots and maintenance apprentices. There were ambitions to develop an in-house aircraft maintenance facility.
International services began with flights to Bishkek in Central Asia using a leased Boeing 707 from Romania’s VIP fleet. This route supported broader Tabani Group expansion into former Soviet republics. Additionally, the airline operated flights to Sharjah in the UAE, where passengers could connect onward to Dubai by road. A modest maintenance workshop was established within Sharjah Airport Free Zone, providing services also to third-party operators.
Destinations
Aero Asia International maintained routes spanning Central Asia, the Middle East, and various Pakistani cities. Some destinations were discontinued prior to the airline’s closure:
Fleet
On 19 May 2007, the airline returned its wet-leased aircraft to the lessors and proceeded to arrange the acquisition of five Boeing 737-300s in accordance with the 2007 Draft National Aviation Policy of Pakistan.
Throughout its operational history, Aero Asia's fleet comprised:
- 7 RomBAC One-Eleven Series 500
- 1 Boeing 707-320C
- 5 Boeing 737-200
- 2 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 (leased from Khors Air)
- 3 McDonnell Douglas MD-82
- 2 McDonnell Douglas MD-83
- 3 Yakovlev Yak-42