Covid: UAE-Pakistan airfare may go up by 50% ahead of Eid

Dubai - Passengers may pay more as Pakistan cuts flights by 80%

Air passengers travelling to Pakistan are expected to pay higher airfare as the airlines will reduce their flight operations from May 5 onwards in line with the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) directive to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Airline sources said airfare may surge up to 50 per cent ahead of Eid as limited seats will be available due to significant cut in Pakistan-bound flights during May 5 to 20.

Covid-19: Pakistan to reduce inbound flights by 80 per cent

"In view of prevailing global and regional disease trends, Pakistan has decided to reduce inbound international travel from 5 May to 20th May. International flights to Pakistan will be reduced to 20 per cent during this period," NCOC tweeted.

The UAE and Pakistani airlines operate more than 150 weekly flights to different cities of the South Asian country, according to industry officials.

Foreign airlines hit more

Aviation sources said Pakistani airlines will be least affected due to restrictions imposed by the Civial Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday after the NCOC directive.

Referring to a notification issued by CAA, the aviation sources said "international inbound landing flight operations to Pakistan shall be curtailed by 80 per cent and shall consequently be reduced to 20 per cent of approved summer-21 scheduled flights" will greatly impact foreign airlines' operations compared to national carriers such as PIA, airblue and Serene Air.

"Foreign airlines have a major share in Pakistani market so they will take a major hit with latest flight restrictions," according to an official.

PIA to merge flights

Abdullah Hafeez Khan, spokesman at Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), said the airline will align its international flight operations in line with the directive of civial aviation regulator.

"We will rationalise our capacity based on the restrictions proposed by the NCOC. We may have to merge few flights," Khan told Khaleej Times.

To a question about fare hike due to flights reduction, he said it would depend on flight bookings and revenue management.

"The airline has no specific plans to increase the fares," he said.

The country’s only listed airline and national flag carrier operates more than 40 weekly flights from the UAE to major cities of Pakistan.

UAE-Pakistan flights may be least affected by Covid restrictions: Sources

No serious challenge

Abbas Raza Dar, country manager for Pakistan’s second biggest airline airblue, said the airline’s is unlikely to face any capacity challenge due to proposed reduction in Pakistan-bound flights from the UAE.

“We operate approximately 35 weekly flights from the UAE to Pakistan and will rationalize our operations once we have a clear picture after a meeting with regulator this week,” Dar told Khaleej Times on Sunday.

In reply to a question, he said airfare traditionally goes up ahead of Eid and this year also has no exception.

“Most of the airlines have already increase airfare for Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and other destinations in Pakistan. However, airfare may go on average 30 to 40 per cent up if we have to cut the flight operations as advised by the NCOC and CAA,” Dar said.

He shared his apprehension and said foreign airlines will be affecting more with the reduction in flight operations compared to national carriers as they dominate Pakistan aviation market.