Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has temporarily suspended flight operations to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following escalating tensions in the Middle East and renewed attacks targeting the Saudi capital’s international airport.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed the decision on Friday, citing the deteriorating regional security situation. The national flag carrier advised passengers scheduled to travel to Riyadh to contact its call centre for updated flight information before heading to the airport.
The suspension comes amid intensifying hostilities between Saudi forces and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which have severely disrupted commercial aviation across the region.
Flight operations at several Pakistani airports have also been affected, with numerous services to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai and other Gulf destinations experiencing cancellations, diversions and prolonged delays.
According to airport sources, more than seven flights departing from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport for Jeddah and Riyadh were diverted to alternative airports in Saudi Arabia.
At least 42 flights from Lahore were reportedly cancelled, while several others experienced delays ranging from three to ten hours, leaving hundreds of passengers facing uncertainty and travel difficulties.
The aviation disruption follows fresh explosions reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, October 8.
A commercial aircraft belonging to Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia, was extensively damaged by fire while parked at the airport. Reuters, citing sources familiar with the incident, reported that the damage may have resulted from a direct projectile strike or flying debris.
The aircraft was believed to have been empty of passengers at the time, although the possibility of injuries had not been ruled out.
Yemen’s Houthi movement subsequently claimed responsibility for an alleged ballistic missile attack on the airport. However, the group did not provide evidence supporting its claim, and Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the reported strike.
Several International carriers suspend services
The incident prompted several international carriers to suspend services to the Saudi capital.
Germany’s Lufthansa Group announced a temporary suspension of Riyadh operations until October 16, while Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air, also cancelled flights as a precautionary measure.
The disruption has had a significant impact on one of Saudi Arabia’s busiest aviation hubs.
Flight-tracking data indicated that hundreds of scheduled arrivals and departures were affected on Thursday. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, nearly half of Riyadh airport’s scheduled departures had been cancelled by Thursday afternoon.
Global flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 also reported a temporary halt in airport operations, noting that no aircraft had landed for more than 80 minutes and no departures had been recorded for over 90 minutes during the disruption.
Passengers travelling from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf destinations have been advised to verify their flight status directly with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport.
