KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority has enforced a ban on serving meals in domestic flights in lieu of rising coronavirus cases in the country.
The ban is in place for chartered and private flights.
As per standard operating procedures, it is mandatory for the cabin crew and passengers to wear a face mask throughout the flight. Previously, before the ban came into effect, passengers would remove their masks during meal times.
According to estimates, the cost of a meal averages around Rs200-300 per passenger. It is estimated that keeping all other factors constant, PIA would be able to save around Rs200,000 a day, Rs1.4 million in a week, or Rs6 million in a month.
However, the PIA spokesman thinks otherwise.
“Food cost is based on the actual cost of production, cost of flight kitchen set up, transportation of food, and other miscellaneous expenses. Only food production has stopped, rest are all intact considering how this is a temporary decision,” said Abdullah Khan, spokesperson of the Pakistan International Airline, while speaking to Profit. “A reduction of Rs200 from the fare won’t be noticeable.”
He said it is unlikely that PIA or other airlines will bring down domestic airfares to accommodate the ban on in-flight meals.
It is pertinent to note that a number of budget airlines around the world do not serve meals on board as a means to save costs.
Khan said that PIA is mulling to serve prepackaged food on flights which most likely will include a wrapped cold sandwich, a juice and a small water bottle.
Passengers are currently allowed to bring their own meals on domestic flights by all air carriers.
Earlier in November, flights had been banned from serving hot beverages.
