LAHORE:
Passenger traffic has fallen sharply at airports across Pakistan due to rising tensions between Iran and the US and rising jet fuel prices, with aviation activity at Allama Iqbal International Airport reduced to a trickle, largely limited to Hajj pilgrims and a small number of essential travellers.
Despite a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East, the fallout has continued to disrupt aviation operations.
Passenger numbers for both domestic and international travel have dropped from hundreds of thousands to just a few thousand, while airlines, both local and foreign, have cut back flight operations by 40 to 50 percent.
Moreover, price reductions have failed to revive demand as escalating jet fuel costs have pushed ticket prices beyond the reach of many. Industry sources say airlines are increasingly canceling flights due to insufficient passenger loads.
“If operating costs cannot be covered, how can flights continue?” noted an airline source, pointing to declining purchasing power among consumers. “People can barely afford daily necessities. How can they afford air travel?”
As a result, only those forced by necessity choose to fly, a stark contrast to previous periods when flights would sell out quickly.
According to Khawaja Ayub Naseem of the Travel Agents Association, while higher fuel costs have contributed to the downturn, broader economic pressures have weakened demand significantly.
He said domestic fares have come down from Rs 50,000-70,000 for routes like Lahore-Karachi return tickets to around Rs 30,000-40,000, but ridership remains low.
He added that instability in the Gulf countries and tighter visa policies, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Dubai, have further reduced outbound travel, with visas now being issued in limited numbers.
The combined effect of geopolitical tensions, economic strain and limited mobility has pushed Pakistan’s aviation sector to what industry insiders describe as the brink of collapse.
