ISLAMABAD: The airfares for Umrah pilgrims have surged sharply, placing an unexpected financial burden on thousands planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious observance.
The rise in demand during the first ten days of Ramadan has led airlines to significantly increase ticket prices across multiple categories.
The business class fares, which previously ranged between Rs425,000 and Rs450,000, have now climbed to as high as Rs500,000 on several routes. The upward revision indicates an overwhelming demand for seats as pilgrims rush to perform Umrah during the sacred month.
However, the scale of the increase has surprised many prospective travelers who had finalized travel plans months in advance. The impact is not limited to premium cabins. The economy and economy-plus categories have also recorded substantial hikes.
In this sense, earlier, fares in these classes ranged between Rs130,000 and Rs140,000. Now, passengers are reportedly being charged between Rs180,000 and Rs200,000 for the same routes.
So far, the travel industry representatives confirm that flights to major Saudi cities are operating at near-full capacity. Khawaja Ayub Naseem, a leader of the Travel Agents Association, said that bookings across airlines have reached saturation point, making fresh reservations increasingly difficult.
“Airlines have adjusted fares in response to high demand,” he stated, adding that travel agents are charging rates strictly in accordance with airline pricing structures. He clarified that agents have limited flexibility once airlines revise their fare systems.
Meanwhile, the Aviation insiders further indicated that remaining unsold seats are being offered at higher rates, particularly for last-minute bookings. This trend, they suggest, could intensify as Ramadan progresses.
The situation has created uncertainty. While airlines attribute the surge to demand-driven pricing, travelers are closely watching whether regulatory authorities will intervene or whether fares may climb even higher in the coming days.
