PIA cuts fares for Umrah, domestic routes

Airline acts on PM’s directive after decrease in oil prices.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on the directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has reduced fares for Umrah flights and a few domestic routes.

The prime minister had called for fare reduction in order to pass the benefit on to passengers following a decline in petroleum product prices over the last three months.

The fare cut comes less than two months ahead of Ramazan – the peak period when a large number of people go to perform Umrah.

For Umrah, passengers from the north including Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will enjoy a reduction of Rs6,000 in airfare — from Rs72,000 to Rs66,000.

The airfare for south – Sindh and Balochistan – has been slashed from Rs60,000 to Rs54,000, a reduction of Rs6,000 as well.

Fares for flying on domestic routes including Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Dera Ghazi Khan have come down Rs2,000 each.

PIA is also working on replacing its old fleet. About two weeks ago, the premier gave the go-ahead for acquiring five Boeing 777 aircraft and insisted on a transparent privatisation process for the national flag carrier.

The airline is also in the process of acquiring 11 A320 aircraft on lease with deliveries starting in June. With an additional five Boeing 777, it will be in a position to offer better services to passengers, increase revenues, add new routes and reduce maintenance cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2014.

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