ISLAMABAD: While the federal government has failed to pass on the benefit of declining petroleum prices to consumers — despite rates having fallen back to pre-February 28 war-era levels — domestic air travellers are getting some relief, as a drop in jet fuel prices has made flight fares cheaper across the country.
According to details available with MM News, one-way airfares on key domestic routes have registered a noticeable decrease.
A ticket from Islamabad to Quetta now ranges between a minimum of Rs 16,770 and a maximum of Rs 48,890. On the Lahore-Quetta route, fares range from a minimum of Rs 12,020 to a maximum of Rs 44,140, while the Karachi-Quetta sector will cost passengers between Rs 13,603 and Rs 44,000 for a one-way ticket.
Aviation sources said all listed fares carry an average fuel surcharge of Rs 7,840, which is charged separately from the base fare. In addition, government taxes and levies add a further Rs 26,755 to each ticket.
Officials explained that once fuel surcharge and applicable taxes are factored in, an ordinary one-way domestic fare on routine days works out to more than Rs 26,000. However, during peak season or for urgently booked tickets, the maximum one-way fare on domestic routes can climb as high as Rs 58,875.
Aviation sources further disclosed that the highest domestic fares are recorded on the Quetta-Islamabad and Karachi-Islamabad routes, making them the most expensive sectors within the country’s domestic aviation network.
While passengers have welcomed the marginal easing in air travel costs, industry watchers note that the broader public continues to bear the burden of unchanged petroleum prices, as the government has yet to pass on any relief on POL products despite global and regional price levels reverting to pre-war benchmarks.
