PIA abolishes fare discounts, limits flight operations amid rising fuel prices

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday announced that it had abolished all fare discounts and reduced its international flight operations in response to continuously rising aviation fuel prices amid austerity measures. In a statement issued by the spokesperson, the flights to Beijing and Kuala Lumpur would be suspended from April 11 and April 14, respectively, while operations to several Gulf countries would also be halted by the end of April, except for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. "Flights to the UAE will be limited to 16 per week, while services to Saudi Arabia will also be reduced," he said. According to the spokesperson, the decision was taken during a high-level meeting aimed at addressing increasing operational costs and preventing potential financial losses. "As part of the measures, PIA has decided to abolish all fare discounts, except those offered to children and infants. A war risk surcharge has also been imposed on air cargo shipments," said the statement. It said that the airline had introduced additional cost-cutting steps, including operating aircraft with a single engine during taxiing, limiting catering on domestic and Saudi-bound flights based on passenger numbers, and banning excess food loading to reduce aircraft weight. Electric generators would now be used only in emergency situations. The spokesperson said the airline cannot shift the entire burden of rising fuel prices onto passengers, necessitating difficult administrative decisions. "The recent increase in jet fuel prices, reportedly the fourth hike, has been driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, placing further financial strain on the airline," he said, The statement added that PIA expressed hope that global fuel prices would stabilise soon, after which the affected routes were expected to be restored. Read More: Sindh launches People's Motorcycle Fuel Subsidy Programme Additionally, the PIA management has also issued a new circular as part of the government’s austerity campaign, outlining further cost-control measures in response to the ongoing financial strain. The directive, issued by the PIA CEO, highlighted that escalating conflict in the Middle East and a sharp increase in aircraft fuel prices had pushed the airline into a financial crisis. Under the new policy, war risk surcharges would be applied to cargo shipments on PIA flights. The circular also introduced several operational changes aimed at conserving fuel and reducing costs. Aircraft would be required to taxi to the runway using only one engine. Catering for domestic and Saudi Arabia-bound flights would be adjusted according to passenger numbers, with a strict ban on excess food loading to minimise additional fuel consumption. Furthermore, the use of electric generators would be restricted to emergency situations only.