Khaled Al-Sulaiman: If the prices of domestic flights went down by a decision, this means that their increase was by a decision!

Al-Marsad newspaper: The writer Khaled Al-Sulaiman said: “If the prices of domestic flights went down by a decision, this means that their rise was by a decision, more than it was related to some airlines with supply and demand and travel seasons, and perhaps the decision-maker appreciated the public interest and outweighed it in the end!”

Rising prices

He continued, during an article published in “Okaz” newspaper, entitled “High and Low Ticket Prices!” The truth is that the recent price hike is not new and is not related to the Ramadan Umrah season. During the last two months, before the Umrah season began, I made 8 domestic flights on Saudi Airlines, and the common factor between them was the unusually high ticket price, and this is a summary of a personal experience and not the result of a random or fictitious search. On booking sites!

Reasons for high ticket prices

And he added: To be objective, part of the reasons for the rise in ticket prices are airport services fees in addition to the 15% added tax, and if airport services fees were reduced, and the aviation sector tax was dealt with a special tax similar to the real estate sector tax, this may have contributed to alleviating the pressure on operating costs On airlines and reduce the value of tickets for domestic flights!

Economy Class fares

He continued: There are vital needs in society, such as the needs of the electricity, water and fuel sectors, which are superior to the economic equations, as well as the air transport sector. What happened recently raised questions regarding whether the restrictions on tourist tickets were also launched!

foreign travel

He added: Many travelers here have experiences in foreign travel and find it difficult to accept the justifications for the increase in the prices of travel tickets between the cities of the Kingdom when compared to the costs of air tickets between the cities of Europe or Asia!

The formula for reducing fees and increasing operating capacity

He concluded his article by saying: As for the drop in ticket prices following the statement of the Civil Aviation Authority, it confirms that the formula for reducing fees and increasing operating capacity was within reach, and there was no need to ring “bells” in social media!