Unprecedented demand for UAE tickets jacks up airfares in Pakistan
Mad-rush at national airports as ticket prices go up by Rs60,000
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The T20 World Cup has triggered an unprecedented rush at the country’s airports as the cricket-lovers have thronged the airlines' offices to get tickets to watch the World Cup being held in the United Arab Emirates, jacking up airfares astronomically, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
Sources informed that with the platitude of sport-lovers wanting to go to the UAE, the airlines have wasted no time in raising their fares by Rs40,000 to Rs60,000. Some aspirants also want to go to the Dubai Expo and Saudi Arabia.
The most thrilling match is going to be played between Pakistan and India. Pakistan will take on arch-rival India on October 24 in Dubai.
The rivalry in cricket between India and Pakistan transcends the normal level, making the event more livid than just a sport. Since recently, both the South Asian countries have got very few chances to come face to face but the T20 World Cup is providing a rare chance to the cricket zealots to see their players clashing with each other on an Arabian turf. Hence is Pakistani cricket lovers desire to get plane ticket for Dubai.
People also want tickets before time as they are afraid of quarantine condition in Saudi Arabia.
All airports including Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore saw a beeline of passengers ready to fly to the UAE. The number of passengers is manifold as compared to the number of airbuses prompting the airlines to hike air ticket fare enormously.
The Etihad Airline has jacked up its Lahore to Abu Dhabi fare to Rs166,000; the Airblue fare from Lahore to Sharjah has exceeded Rs85,000; PIA is charging Rs120,000 from Lahore to Dubai; and the Serene Air ticket from Lahore to Dubai is being sold at Rs110,000.
Sources revealed seeing the load of passengers intending to go to the UAE, many airlines cancelled their domestic flights and they are using their jets for international flights. With this unusual passengers’ spate, the air fare of domestic flights has also been surged.
Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority took stern notice of the cancellation of domestic flights and stopped the airlines to cancel their scheduled flights.
Flights cancellation at Lahore airport
As many as 21 scheduled flights were cancelled at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Wednesday owing to a dearth of planes and operational reasons.
The flights which were cancelled included: PIA’s Flight 313 which was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi; PIA’s 2-way Flights 650/651 from Lahore to Islamabad; Airblue’s two-way Flights 416/417 from Lahore to Dubai; PIA’s two-way Flights 322/323 from Lahore to Quetta; Qatar Airways Flights 628/629 from Lahore to Doha; Airblue’s Flights 403/404 and Flights 407/408 from Lahore to Karachi; PIA’s Flight 185 from Lahore to Sharjah; Gulf Airlines’ Flights 766/767 from Lahore to Bahrain; PIA’s Flights 306/307 from Lahore to Karachi; Serene Airlines’ Flight 2725 from Lahore to Rastul Khema, PIA’s Flight 304 coming from Karachi to Lahore; and PIA’s Flight 316 also coming from Karachi to Lahore were cancelled.
Reporter Saeed Ahmad Saeed