KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: As Pakistanis celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, domestic and international airfares registered a surge by 15–20% compared to pre-holiday levels, with ticket prices climbing as much as 30% higher on the eve of Eid.
Reports gathered by MM News revealed that despite the surge in fares, domestic air travel recorded a slight decline during the holiday period. However, inbound international travel saw a notable increase, driven largely by overseas Pakistanis returning home to celebrate Eid with their families
From the Gulf alone, direct flights — particularly from Dubai — saw fares to Karachi highest ever level, as festive demand collided with severely limited seat availability.
In response to the surge in demand, foreign carriers have added special flights to the Middle East, targeting the return of Pakistani nationals stranded in Gulf countries post-Eid. The move underscores the growing logistical efforts to manage the seasonal migration of overseas workers and families returning home — a critical component of Pakistan’s post-holiday mobility landscape.
For millions of Pakistanis, the Eid holiday — marked this year with nationwide prayers and calls for unity amid the Middle East conflict — came at a considerably steeper financial cost than in previous years, with no immediate relief in sight for air travellers.
