Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced to restore its flight operations to various Gulf states, reinstating travel routes that had been suspended amid heightened tensions in Persian Gulf.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the national airline has resumed services from multiple Pakistani cities to destinations including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai. This development signifies a return to routine air travel after significant disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
“Flight services to Gulf nations are gradually returning to normal,” the spokesperson stated.
A number of previously delayed or grounded PIA flights have now departed, though several experienced significant delays:
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Islamabad to Dammam (PK245) departed after a 15-hour delay
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Karachi to Medina (PK743) took off 14.5 hours behind schedule
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Lahore to Medina (PK713) left 7 hours late, after a planned 1:30 pm departure
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Sialkot to Sharjah (PK209) experienced a delay of one hour
The spokesperson also noted that return flights would likely face delays due to the adjusted outbound schedules, and advised passengers to plan accordingly.
PIA is actively rebooking affected travelers onto available flights and continuing efforts to return to full operational capacity as quickly as possible.
“Passengers are encouraged to contact the PIA call center for the most up-to-date flight information,” the spokesperson advised.
Earlier, on Monday night, PIA had suspended its services to several Gulf destinations due to deteriorating security conditions in the Persian Gulf. All flights from Pakistan to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai were halted until further notice.
“In response to the volatile security environment in the Persian Gulf, PIA temporarily suspended its operations to ensure the safety of both passengers and crew,” the airline said in a statement.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience these cancellations may have caused, but passenger safety remains our highest priority,” the spokesperson added.
