A. Orient Airline
B. Aero Asia
C. Shaheen
D. Bhoja

Orient Airways – First Airline of Pakistan

Orient Airways was the first airline of Pakistan and also the first Muslim-owned airline in British India. It was founded on 23 October 1946 in Calcutta and began operations on 4 June 1947. After independence, it moved operations to Pakistan and later merged into Pakistan International Airlines in 1955.

Key Facts

• Founded: 23 October 1946
• Started Operations: 4 June 1947
• Ceased Operations: 11 March 1955
• Founder / Chairman: Mirza Ahmad Ispahani
• Headquarters: Karachi
• Merged Into: Pakistan International Airlines
• Fleet: 10 Douglas DC-3 and 3 Convair 240 aircraft

History
Why Orient Airways Was Created

Orient Airways was established before the creation of Pakistan to provide air services for Muslims in the region.

Role After Partition

After 1947, it helped transport passengers and refugees and played a major role in connecting:

• Karachi
• Lahore
• Peshawar
• Dacca (now Dhaka)
• Merger Into PIA

In 1955, Orient Airways merged into Pakistan International Airlines, which later became Pakistan’s national carrier.

Fleet Information

Main aircraft used:

1. Douglas DC-3
2. Convair 240

The total fleet reached 13 aircraft.

Important Points for Exams

• First airline of Pakistan
• Founded in 1946
• Began flying in 1947
• Merged into PIA in 1955
• First Muslim-owned airline in British India

MCQs for Practice
1. The first airline of Pakistan was:

A) PIA
B) Airblue
C) Orient Airways
D) Shaheen Air

✅ Answer: C) Orient Airways

2. Orient Airways was founded in:

A) 1945
B) 1946
C) 1948
D) 1955

✅ Answer: B) 1946

3. Orient Airways started operations in:

A) 1946
B) 1947
C) 1950
D) 1955

✅ Answer: B) 1947

4. Orient Airways later became:

A) AirSial
B) Serene Air
C) PIA
D) Shaheen Air

✅ Answer: C) PIA

5. The founder of Orient Airways was:

A) Liaquat Ali Khan
B) Mirza Ahmad Ispahani
C) Nur Khan
D) Muhammad Ali Jinnah

✅ Answer: B) Mirza Ahmad Ispahani

6. Orient Airways merged into PIA in:

A) 1952
B) 1955
C) 1960
D) 1965

✅ Answer: B) 1955

7. The main hub of Orient Airways was:

A) Lahore
B) Karachi
C) Islamabad
D) Quetta

✅ Answer: B) Karachi

8. Which aircraft was used by Orient Airways?

A) Boeing 777
B) Airbus A320
C) Douglas DC-3
D) Boeing 747

✅ Answer: C) Douglas DC-3