ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) temporarily suspended its flight operations to Riyadh amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, following repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports that have disrupted hundreds of flights and affected thousands of passengers, including Umrah pilgrims.
The suspension comes after Thursday’s attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which reportedly killed three people, including a Saudia Airlines pilot, and damaged a Saudi aircraft on the ground.
According to reports, a Pakistani national was also among those injured in earlier attacks this week.
In a statement issued here on Friday, a PIA spokesperson confirmed that the airline had temporarily suspended its Riyadh operations in view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East.
The national flag carrier advised passengers to contact its call centre at 111-786-786 to confirm their flight status before leaving for the airport.
PIA also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the suspension.
The disruption has significantly affected regional aviation operations. According to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, at least 335 flights were cancelled at Riyadh airport on Thursday alone.
Several international airlines have also suspended their services.
PIA has not announced a timeline for the resumption of its Riyadh services, which remain subject to developments in the regional security situation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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