Ariana will operate daily flights, charging $550 for a one-way ticket, the state-run airline said on its Facebook page.

Ariana will operate daily flights, charging $550 for a one-way ticket, the state-run airline said on its Facebook page.

A spokesman said there had been heavy demand for tickets on the first flight, which was due to depart at 4.30 p.m. local time on Monday (1200 GMT). Dubai will be the only international destination offered by Ariana for the time being.

Some charter services have been flying to Kabul since the Taliban takeover but normally scheduled commercial flights have remained suspended.

Pakistan International Airlines suspended its charter service to Kabul from Islamabad last month, citing interference from Taliban authorities, who had warned the airline it should cut its ticket prices.

Tickets for PIA flights had been selling for up to $2,500, according to local travel agents, compared with around $180 before the Taliban victory.
PIA said it could not afford to operate services at previous prices because of the high cost of insuring flights to a country considered by insurers to be a war zone.

Reuters