Airblue has reportedly laid off more than 300 employees in a sudden restructuring, in one of the biggest workforce cuts at a Pakistani private airline this year. Staff were told by email that their employment would end from 2 November 2026, and were asked to hand their service cards and airport passes back to the airline's human resources department.

Engineers and pilots among those dismissed

The cuts fell across several departments, including engineering, passenger handling and airside operations. Sixty-nine staff from the engineering division alone lost their jobs, and around 40 pilots and several director-level executives were also among those dismissed, according to the reports.

Airline cites regional uncertainty

The airline is reported to have blamed prevailing regional uncertainty and the challenges facing the aviation industry, saying it had reviewed its operational requirements and organisational structure before taking what it described as a difficult decision. The reports say the airline has told its human resources department to process and pay the outstanding dues of the staff affected.

A worrying sign for aviation jobs

The layoffs are a fresh blow to Pakistan's aviation workforce, with hundreds of trained staff — including engineers and pilots — suddenly looking for new roles in a tight market. The reports are based on staff accounts and internal emails; no public statement from the airline was cited in the coverage, and the airline has not said whether further cuts will follow.