The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) charges one of the highest fares (rate per kilometre) from the pilgrims whereas its rate per kilometre is lower on its own network thus making up from the pilgrims what it loses on rest of their international network by selling cheaper fares, according to PIA analysts here.
The Hajj policy announced by the government says that Hajj fare has been raised by Rs 5,000 to Rs 84,000 from Islamabad, and from Karachi to Rs 72,000 for Hajj 2011. According to a comparative study, the government has apparently been persuaded on prevailing high fuel prices to approve this increase, but Hajj fares were already higher than what PIA charges on its many international routes, thus hiding its motive to over-charge the poor Hajj pilgrims. Based on a figure of 179,256 pilgrims, by sharing with Saudia, the additional revenue from pilgrims will be Rs 866 million.
The logic which the airline has offered is that it has to perform four trips by taking pilgrims to Jeddah, returning empty, and again after Hajj, proceed empty to bring the Hajis back. Therefore, the flying time is doubled compared to a normal scheduled flight which operates up and down.
In comparison with other routes, PIA will take passengers from Islamabad to New York and back for 30-hour journey for Rs 99,000 (without taxes) whereas for Hajj pilgrims it will get Rs 84,000 for going and returning (inclusive of empty legs)--a journey of 20 hours.
A comparison of flying time from Karachi to Jeddah with New York shows that Karachi-Jeddah journey for four trips is around 17 hours whereas time for one round-trip from Karachi to New York is around 30 hours for which the fare is Rs 88,000 as against Rs 72,000 for Karachi pilgrims for flying time of 17 hours.
Another example is PIA's fare from Karachi to London and back, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 65,000 (without taxes), for more or less same flying time for four trips on Karachi-Jeddah-Karachi sector, costing Rs 72,000. PIA analysts recall the alleged episode of 2008 when PIA hedged the prices of oil for Hajj operation at $120/barrel and got the Hajj fare raised on this pretext from the government but at the time of Hajj operation the fuel prices dropped to less than $100 and in the bargain the bank involved in this transaction made $20 million at the cost of poor pilgrims. The government must ensure that this matter is reviewed in this context and Hajj pilgrims are given a reprieve, analysts said.
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