I CHECKED PIA’s online fares offered on its website recently for an overseas trip. To my amazement the fares were higher than those offered by the Middle East-based airlines. I called up my travel agent to verify the online fare offered by PIA and he quoted fares that were cheaper than the PIA quoted online fares.

I fail to understand the big difference between PIA online fares and the ones quoted by my travel agent. How is it possible that online fares are higher than those quoted by the travel agent?

All over the world, airlines are promoting online direct sales as it fetches the carrier more revenue because it eliminates the travel agent’s commission and makes passengers happy.

Increasing revenue and controlling expenditure is important for any enterprise. It seems PIA is deliberately ensuring that direct online sales are discouraged so that travel agents thrive and they are paid commission.

No wonder PIA is incurring losses as everyone is making money except PIA itself!

Syed Hussain Abbas

Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2019