Airlines Raise Fares Amid Demand; Pilgrims say costs now force hard choices
LAHORE:
With the start of Ramazan, domestic and international airlines have sharply increased ticket prices, with business class tickets increasing to Rs 500,000. and Economy and Economy Plus prices have risen to between Rs 180,000 and Rs 200,000.
As the first 10 days of the holy month began, the number of Umrah pilgrims increased as usual. Airlines took advantage of the increase by raising ticket prices. Each year, millions travel for Umrah, and numbers typically increase further during the second and third 10-day periods of Ramazan.
Earlier, economy and economy plus tickets cost around Rs.130,000-140,000, but they have now jumped to Rs.180,000-200,000. Business class fares, which were earlier between Rs440,000 and Rs450,000, have now touched Rs500,000.
Read: The city buzzes as the Ramazan moon ushers in the first day
Travel agent Muhammad Ayub said the trek was driven by demand. “When there is a festival or a busy season, demand increases and airlines increase their prices. All airline bookings are full, which is why even the remaining seats are priced higher. Agents charge exactly what the airlines set,” he explained.
Pilgrim Amir Imtiaz Bilal highlighted the impact on common people. “With such high prices, one has to think twice even to perform this religious obligation. Earlier, we booked tickets two months ago for around Rs 130,000. My other brother recently booked and got a ticket for PKR 180,000. This shows how far inflation has reached.”
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Wednesday that the crescent of Ramazan 1447 AH had been observed and that the first fast would be observed on Thursday.
