As the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, struggles to operate due to fuel shortage, the private airlines are looking to use the situation for their benefit.
Private airlines have started taking advantage of the PIA flight operations being affected, as they have suddenly increased their fares.
The private airlines have started charging Rs40,000 to Rs70,000 for domestic flights. The fare for a Lahore-Karachi flight has been raised up to Rs49,000 per seat.
The one-way fare from Karachi to Islamabad is being charged between Rs55,000 to Rs61,000.
This development comes in the wake of the PIA's domestic flight schedule having been adversely impacted for a week, which has also created beelines of intending passengers.
A private airline spokesman said the difference in demand and supply arises due to the extra rush of passengers.
Meanwhile, the financial crisis at PIA is getting serious by the day, as 35 domestic and foreign flights have been cancelled.
The schedule of several domestic flights has been disrupted due to the non-resumption of fuel supply. Many domestic and foreign flights have been delayed at various airports of the country.
The airlines administrations have issued a new schedule for the departure of the delayed flights.
Also Read: PSO suspends fuel supply to PIA only over non-payment
On the issue of payment of dues with the PIA, the PSO has said that the national airlines was provided fuel with Rs3.45 billion between October 1 and 18.
According to the Pakistan State Oil, fuel worth Rs195 million was supplied to PIA today (Thursday).
The PSO statement said the PIA’s current month’s liabilities so far have reached Rs2.11 billion, while the airlines already has liabilities of Rs26 billion for years.
According to the PSO, a provisional agreement has been signed with the PIA for daily fuel supply in exchange for daily payments.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been facing flight disruptions due to fuel supply suspension by the Pakistan State Oil (PSO). The suspension is reportedly due to PIA's non-payment of dues.
PSO sources say that PIA has once again failed to pay as promised, due to which fuel supply has been stopped in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the stoppage of fuel supply has not affected flights abroad, which are departing according to schedule.
The fuel supply suspension is a major blow to PIA, which is already struggling financially. The airline has been forced to cancel or delay flights on several occasions in recent months due to a shortage of funds.
