Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has raised fuel surcharges due to a 34% increase in jet fuel costs amid the Gulf crisis. Domestic flight surcharges will rise by $20, while international flights may see increases up to $100. The move reflects rising operational costs caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
A PIA spokesperson said that 165 flights were cancelled over the past 12 days due to regional disruptions. International operations, in particular, have been severely affected, stranding thousands of passengers across major routes to the Middle East.
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Rising oil prices are driving the increases, with Brent crude nearing $100 per barrel on Thursday. Spot jet fuel prices in Northwest Europe reached $1,536 per metric ton, close to an all-time intra-day high of $1,633 earlier this week.
The Gulf conflict involving United States, Israel, and Iran has disrupted airline operations globally. Carriers from Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have cancelled thousands of flights, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
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Six major airlines — Etihad, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Kuwait Airways — collectively cancelled about 2,381 flights per day. These cancellations highlight the severe impact of the Gulf crisis on aviation operations.