Airfares Soar as Road Closures in Balochistan Leave Quetta Travellers With Few Alternatives

QUETTA: Air travel from Quetta has become significantly more expensive after security concerns disrupted road travel on major national highways and public transport services to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore were suspended or restricted.

With ground transportation severely limited, a growing number of passengers have turned to air travel, leading to a sharp increase in airfares amid limited seats and rising demand.

According to passengers and travel agents, some tickets between Quetta and Karachi, in both directions, have reached Rs100,000 to Rs110,000. Airfares from Quetta to Islamabad are reportedly around Rs100,000, while passengers travelling to Lahore are being charged between Rs80,000 and Rs85,000 for some flights.

Passengers say that after security concerns made road travel difficult, air travel has become the only practical option for those who need to travel urgently. However, the sharp increase in ticket prices has placed an additional financial burden on ordinary citizens.

The Pakistan Airports Authority’s flight schedule website shows flights between Quetta and major cities for August 15, 2026. However, passengers and travel agents say the availability of scheduled flights does not necessarily mean that tickets are available at affordable prices.

Ground Routes Restricted

Security concerns have disrupted public transport between Quetta and Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities, causing serious difficulties for daily travellers.

Businesspeople, students, government employees, patients and their families, as well as people travelling for urgent personal reasons, are increasingly being forced to rely on air travel.

For years, road transport has been a major means of travel between Quetta and Karachi. Following the suspension or restriction of bus services, passengers with unavoidable travel plans have had little choice but to purchase expensive air tickets.

Passengers say that while security concerns have deprived them of affordable ground travel, rising airfares are also making air travel unaffordable. Families travelling together could face expenses running into hundreds of thousands of rupees simply for air tickets.

Fares Several Times Higher

Travel agents and passengers say some Quetta-Karachi tickets are now available for Rs100,000 to Rs110,000, while fares to Islamabad have reportedly approached Rs100,000. Tickets to Lahore are reportedly costing between Rs80,000 and Rs85,000.

These fares are said to be several times higher than normal rates. However, ticket prices can vary depending on the date of travel, flight, seat availability, booking time and the airline’s fare system.

A recent government response presented in the National Assembly noted significant fluctuations in fares on some domestic routes during 2026. Airlines have cited factors such as market demand, additional capacity and competition as influences on airfares.

Calls for Additional Flights

Passengers in Balochistan have urged airlines to operate additional flights and increase available seating while road routes remain restricted.

They have also called on the federal and provincial governments, aviation authorities and airlines to take notice of the sudden increase in airfares and review the unusually high ticket prices.

Citizens argue that if road travel is restricted for security reasons, the government must ensure affordable alternative transportation. Otherwise, access to other parts of the country will become increasingly difficult for people in Balochistan.

Economic Impact

Business communities have also expressed concern over the situation, saying that air and road connectivity between Quetta and Karachi is critically important to Balochistan’s economy.

Karachi is a major commercial market and port city and is particularly important for traders in Balochistan. Islamabad and Lahore are also important destinations for government, business and educational activities.

Prolonged restrictions on road travel could affect not only passengers but also trade, business activity and the transportation of essential goods, potentially increasing costs for consumers and placing further pressure on the provincial economy.

Citizens say that inflation and limited household incomes have already strained family budgets, while spending Rs80,000 to Rs100,000 or more on a single domestic flight is beyond the reach of many people.

Demand for Government Action

Passengers and civic circles have urged the provincial government to coordinate immediately with the federal government, aviation authorities and airlines to address the travel crisis.

They have called for additional flights, increased seat availability and a review of exceptionally high airfares. They also want a clear policy on the duration of road restrictions, restoration of public transport and alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers.

Business and travel representatives say airlines are responsible for increasing fares, while citizens are demanding greater government oversight.

Residents maintain that ensuring security is the government’s foremost responsibility, but they say the authorities must also consider people’s basic travel needs and economic difficulties while security measures remain in place.

They have urged the government to seek details of current airfares from airlines, arrange additional flights and work with security agencies to develop an effective strategy for restoring public transport as soon as possible.