Fares on routes between Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, as well as other stations, saw notable increases
Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane. Photo file: Reuters
KARACHI:
Pakistani airlines have further increased fares amid rising jet fuel prices and higher operational costs linked to the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran.
Several airlines have increased their ticket prices by passing on increased fuel costs through additional security fees, with fuel costs expected to double.
Fares on routes between Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, as well as other stations, have seen notable increases. One-way fares from Karachi to Islamabad and Lahore reached up to Rs 40,000.
Jet fuel shortages and limited oil reserves have also been cited as main reasons for the rise in ticket prices.
Fares for “lucky seats” on routes to Lahore and Islamabad have increased by up to 150 percent. Airlines now charge more than 50,000 rupees for one-way “random seat” tickets on domestic routes including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
International ticket prices have also increased, with economy class fares to the Middle East, Toronto, Paris and Manchester ranging between Rs 300,000 and Rs 700,000.
Read: Government hikes Rs200 levy on high-octane fuel for luxury cars to ease crisis
Earlier on Sunday, the government approved a significant increase of Rs 200 per liter in the tax on high-octane fuel used in luxury vehicles, in a bid to tackle the fuel crisis amid tensions in the Middle East.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, chairing a meeting via video link, announced that the current levy of Rs 100 per liter on high octane fuel would be increased by another Rs 200, taking the total levy to Rs 300 per litre.
Pushing the new price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) in the country to Rs535. The decision to increase the levy from Rs100 to Rs300 per liter was taken at a meeting chaired by the prime minister.
