LAHORE:
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, PIA on Wednesday announced operational changes to its Gulf routes, suspending flights to Fujairah in the UAE for 48 hours.
According to a statement issued by the airline’s spokesperson, PIA will limit its services to the UAE only to Al Ain, an inland oasis city on the eastern border with Oman.
Airline officials said the situation is under constant review, with further adjustments likely if tensions continue. Passengers have been advised to regularly check flight schedules and stay in touch with airlines.
On Wednesday, the Gulf conflict continued to cause widespread disruption to Pakistan’s air travel, with at least 92 inbound and outbound flights canceled across major airports, stranding passengers and forcing airlines to scale back operations.
The cancellations affected key international routes connecting Pakistan to the Gulf and beyond, underscoring the immediate fallout of regional instability on global aviation networks.
According to aviation authorities, 18 flights at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport were canceled to destinations including Kuwait, Doha and Bahrain. At Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, at least 20 flights to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran and other regional hubs were cancelled.
Islamabad International Airport reported the highest number of disruptions, with 28 flights canceled on routes to Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Muscat, while Peshawar Airport saw 16 flights to Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi scrapped.
Disruption also extends to smaller airports. Multan recorded four cancellations while Sialkot saw six flights to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Bahrain suspended. In contrast, operations at Faisalabad Airport remained unaffected and flights continued as scheduled.
The disruption in Pakistan reflects a wider shock to global aviation as heightened tensions in the Middle East – a critical transit corridor linking Europe, Asia and Africa – force airlines to reassess route safety and operational viability.
Aviation analysts warn that even limited airspace restrictions could trigger cascading disruptions worldwide. Airlines are increasingly diverting flights to avoid sensitive zones, adding hours to travel times, increasing fuel consumption and complicating crew and aircraft scheduling.
Major airlines have already adjusted operations, with some suspending routes and others relying on longer, more expensive routes. Industry bodies such as the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization continue to issue risk advisories, prompting airlines to recalibrate operations in real time.
