This is with reference to the news published in The Nation dated 27 September, Airlines in unholy marriage. It is an issue that has deprived many Pakistanis of their wish to travel for Umra. Blatant blackmail by the airlines have caused anguish to consumers as both PIA and Al-Saudia, two national airlines having a monopoly over operating direct flights between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have colluded for profits. For several years until now, the travelling public had benefited from competitive marketing by both these airlines which made for attractive fares for passengers. This was the purpose of the Open Sky policy, to facilitate the Pakistani traveler to chose between the best available services at an affordable price. Other airlines which operated via their hubs in Gulf offered one-stop flights to Jeddah and Medina, another alternative for Pakistanis having desire of a lifetime to perform Umra or Hajj with their lifelong savings. In 2008, though, PIAs present management formed an unholy alliance with the Saudi Airlines resulting in uniform levying of fares for expatriate Pakistanis, thereby making Umra or Hajj a very expensive affair. Such an arrangement never existed in the past as it was a violation of the Open Sky policy and business ethics that prohibit any cartelization of fares to the disadvantage of travelling public. The silence of the government and CCP over this matter is a cause for concern for the consumers. -SHAHZAD KHALIL, Sialkot, September 28.