ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its flight operations to several Gulf countries after a temporary suspension caused by heightened regional tensions between Iran and Israel. The flights resumed on Tuesday following the announcement of a ceasefire.
PIA had earlier suspended its flights to destinations including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, citing safety concerns after regional airspace was restricted due to missile exchanges and escalating military activity.
According to a PIA spokesperson, the resumption of operations began around 12:30 PM, with delayed flights from Islamabad to Dammam, Karachi to Madinah, Lahore to Madinah, and Sialkot to Sharjah departing shortly after clearance was received. Most flights experienced delays ranging from 7 to 15 hours due to the sudden disruption in airspace access.
Additional flights that were resumed include routes such as Multan–Dubai, Sialkot–Doha, Karachi–Jeddah, and Islamabad–Abu Dhabi. PIA has advised passengers to stay updated via its official channels for revised schedules.
A special flight was also operated from Peshawar to Ashgabat to facilitate the return of Pakistani nationals who had been stranded due to the temporary halt in operations.
The national flag carrier expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers but maintained that the suspension was a necessary precaution aligned with global aviation safety protocols.
Airlines across the region had earlier grounded or rerouted flights following airspace closures after missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. The recent ceasefire, brokered with international mediation, has led to a gradual return to normalcy in regional air travel.
Reported by PakTribune News Desk
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