Private airlines in Pakistan are reportedly taking advantage of the ongoing crisis within Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by significantly increasing the fares for domestic flights.
According to local reports, private airlines are charging passengers between Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 70,000 for domestic flights, with prices for flights from Karachi to Lahore reaching up to Rs. 50,000. Similarly, one-way flights from Karachi to Islamabad are being charged between Rs. 55,000 to Rs. 61,000.
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These price hikes by private airlines come as PIA faces a fuel shortage issue, leading to the cancellation of nearly 50 flights in recent days.
A PIA spokesperson has stated that the airline has secured funds for fuel purchase through its own resources and expects the flight schedule to return to normal. The spokesperson also apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the delayed and canceled flights.