Air ticket prices in Sri Lanka are expected to rise in the near future in line with rising fuel prices.
Despite every effort being made to manage and minimize fuel costs for airlines, an increase in air passenger ticket prices will be inevitable, said Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku.
The Deputy Minister pointed out that this problem is not limited to Sri Lanka alone, but is currently affecting the entire global aviation industry. In addition to financial pressures, special flight arrangements have also created logistical difficulties, and some flights are operating only for one-way passenger demand, resulting in planes having to return empty.
However, the Deputy Minister assured that the upcoming price increases will not affect passengers who have already booked.
Jet fuel prices in the global market have been rising rapidly. Accordingly, the Deputy Minister noted that a barrel of jet fuel, which was $93.57 at the beginning of this month, before the war, has risen to $209.