Fares on routes between Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore as well as other stations have seen notable increases.
Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane. Photo archive: Reuters
KARACHI:
Airlines in Pakistan have further raised fares amid rising jet fuel prices and higher operating costs linked to the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran.
Several airlines have increased ticket prices by passing on increased fuel costs through additional security charges, and fuel costs are said to have doubled.
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 have reached Rs 40,000.
Jet fuel shortages and limited oil reserves have also been cited as key reasons behind rising ticket prices.
Fares for “casual seats” on routes to Lahore and Islamabad have increased by up to 150 percent. Airlines now charge more than Rs 50,000 for one-way “free 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 from Rs 300,000 to Rs 700,000.
Read: Government raises Rs 200 tax 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 move to address 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 video conference meeting, announced that the current tax of Rs 100 per liter on high-octane fuel would be increased by an additional Rs 200, taking the total tax to Rs 300 per liter.
Raise the new price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) in the country to Rs 535. The decision to increase the tax from Rs 100 to Rs 300 per liter was taken in a meeting chaired by the chief minister.
