Private airlines raise fares amid PIA’s financial crunch

Following the disruption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) domestic flights’ operation due to the financial crisis the airline is presently facing, private airlines in the country have started charging passengers fares at will, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

It has been learnt that private airlines, which normally charge passengers travelling within the country between Rs18, 000 and Rs30,000 when the PIA’s flight operation is going on as per routine, have now started charging them between Rs35, 000 and Rs70,000.

24News has learnt that private airlines have now started charging passengers travelling from Karachi to Lahore between Rs35, 000 and Rs50, 000.

Likewise, fares as high as between Rs55,000 and Rs61,000 have been collected by these airlines from the people travelling from Karachi to Islamabad and vice versa.

It is pertinent to mention here that the national flag carrier’s domestic flights’ operation, which remains badly disturbed for the last one week, has resulted in an increase in the number of people waiting to catch private airlines’ flights.

Perturbed over the development, the passengers have demanded the Competition Commission to take notice of their plight.     

Reporter: Ashraf Khan