KARACHI: Air travel across Pakistan has become significantly more expensive following a massive spike in jet fuel prices, with several airlines doubling their fares to offset rising operational costs.
According to industry details gathered by MM News, the price of jet fuel has skyrocketed from Rs.176 to Rs.417 per litre, and this burden is being passed directly to passengers as ticket prices increase in the same proportion. While airlines have maintained their basic fare structures, the overall cost of travel has surged due to the implementation of heavy fuel surcharges and fuel adjustments.
Industry sources said the impact is felt acutely on major domestic routes connecting Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore, where one-way tickets have now reached Rs.40,000.
Pakistan International Airlines has responded by increasing fares between $10 and $100, including a specific $10 fuel surcharge on all local flights. For those attempting to secure last-minute travel, the fares for chance seats in Lahore and Islamabad have seen a staggering increase of 150 percent.
The crisis extends to international travel as well, where sources indicate that economy class tickets for popular destinations such as the Middle East, Toronto, Paris, and Manchester have jumped from approximately Rs 300,000 to as high as Rs 700,000.
This development follows a recent directive from the Pakistan Airports Authority advising foreign carriers to carry sufficient fuel for their return journeys. The country continues to grapple with a severe shortage of Jet A-1 fuel, a situation exacerbated by the intensifying conflict in the Middle East which has disrupted supply chains and sent energy prices soaring.
