Pamir Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Fate | Operational license withdrawn due to safety concerns |
| Headquarters | Kabul , Afghanistan |
Key people | Sherkhan Farnood (Chairman) |
| Products | Scheduled passenger services |
Pamir Airways was a privately held airline based in Kabul, Afghanistan, providing regularly scheduled passenger services departing from Kabul International Airport. Its name is inspired by the Pamir Mountains, often referred to as the "roof of the world."
History
Recognized as Afghanistan's inaugural private airline prior to the Taliban's rise, Pamir Airways obtained its Air Operator's Certificate in 1994 from the country's civil aviation authority at that time. Flight operations commenced in 1995, utilizing a fleet that initially consisted of one Boeing 707-300 and two Antonov An-12 planes.
In April 2008, a group of Afghan entrepreneurs led by Sherkhan Farnood, president of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce & Industries and former chairman of Kabul Bank, took ownership of Pamir Airways. Following this acquisition, Farnood assumed the role of chairman. The airline obtained a $98 million loan from Kabul Bank, which was later scrutinized for its lenient lending practices, including low interest rates, absence of collateral requirements, and flexible repayment terms.
Attempts to revitalize Pamir’s assets, notably its aging and inactive aircraft, did not generate adequate revenue. As a result, on 19 March 2011, Afghan regulators withdrew the airline’s operational license, officially citing substandard safety performance.
Destinations
When it ceased operations, Pamir Airways flew to the following locations:
Pamir Airways played a significant role in transporting Afghan pilgrims during the Hajj seasons, carrying approximately 9,000 pilgrims in 2004 and increasing to 15,000 in 2005.
Fleet
The airline's fleet included the following aircraft types:
| Aircraft | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonov An-12 | 1995 | unknown | |
| Antonov An-24 | unknown | 2010 | |
| Boeing 707-320 | 1995 | unknown | Among the airline’s original aircraft models |
| Boeing 737-200 | 2008 | 2011 | One remained at closure |
| Boeing 737-400 | 2009 | 2011 | Four remained at closure |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-15 | 2005 | unknown |
Incidents and accidents
- On 17 May 2010, Pamir Airways Flight 112, operated by an Antonov An-24, tragically crashed in the vicinity of Salang Pass, approximately 100 km north of Kabul, resulting in the loss of all 44 passengers and crew. The aircraft was traveling from Kunduz Airport to Kabul at the time of the accident.