PIA Ends All Passenger Discounts Amid Rising Jet Fuel Prices

Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced the termination of all passenger discounts, except for children and infants, citing the continuous surge in jet fuel prices. The national carrier has also decided to reduce flights due to escalating operational costs.

A PIA spokesperson said on Monday that recent weeks have seen rapid increases in jet fuel (JP-1) prices due to global supply chain uncertainties, particularly stemming from conflicts in the Middle East.

The spokesperson added that PIA made a policy decision to end all discounts, maintaining them only for children and infants. A high-level meeting was held to devise strategies to cope with rising fuel costs and potential financial losses.

According to the spokesperson, PIA will limit its flights to the United Arab Emirates to 16 per week. Until the end of April, flights to Gulf countries other than the UAE and Saudi Arabia will be temporarily suspended. Additionally, PIA will suspend flights to Beijing from April 11 and Kuala Lumpur from April 14.

These measures come following the fourth consecutive increase in jet fuel prices. The spokesperson explained that the full burden of rising fuel costs cannot be passed onto passengers, necessitating strict administrative decisions. They expressed hope that global fuel prices would stabilize soon, after which affected routes would be restored.

Last week, PIA Consortium Chairman Arif Habib had expressed concerns over the airline’s operations due to a 150% increase in jet fuel prices and urged the government to reverse the price hike.