PIA suspends flights to Riyadh on a temporary basis, a spokesperson said on Friday, citing the situation in the Middle East after Houthi attacks on Saudi airports.
What PIA has announced
The airline said it has halted operations to the Saudi capital, which affects flight PK-753 from Islamabad and PK-754 from Riyadh, according to the Express Tribune. Passengers have been asked to call the PIA call centre on 111-786-786 to confirm flight status before leaving for the airport, and the airline apologised for the inconvenience.
As Arab News Pakistan reported, PIA has not said when services will resume or what arrangements affected passengers will receive. The carrier had kept flying to Saudi Arabia even after it suspended services to the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait in March.
Why PIA suspends flights to Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said King Khalid International Airport was targeted in two attacks on Thursday, one hitting airport facilities and the other a Saudia aircraft, according to Gulf News. The authority said three Saudi nationals were killed and others injured. Local media also reported that a Pakistani national was among the injured. Yemen’s Houthis claimed the strikes.
Cirium data cited by Khaleej Times showed roughly 45 percent of scheduled departures from the airport were cancelled or not operating that day. Lufthansa Group has suspended Riyadh flights through October 16, and Air India cancelled services until October 10, according to Reuters.
What it means for Pakistani travellers
Saudi Arabia is home to a large Pakistani community and is one of the country’s main sources of remittances, so the disruption affects workers, families and pilgrims’ travel plans. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi security. Passengers booked to Riyadh should check with PIA or their travel agent before heading to the airport and watch for an announcement on resumption.
