ISLAMABAD – The brutal US and Israeli attacks on Iran have shocked global aviation, forcing major international airlines, including PIA, to suspend operations across large parts of the Middle East.
Flights were canceled mid-schedule, aircraft were rerouted and, in some cases, diverted just before landing, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and spreading uncertainty at airports around the world. The airlines issued a public apology, emphasizing that this sweeping measure was strictly a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced the immediate suspension of flights to key Gulf destinations. According to the official statement, united arab emirates, Bahrain, dohaand Kuwait Canceled. The suspension will initially remain in effect until Sunday evening or until regional airspace reopens. But the next flight is Saudi Arabia They will continue, albeit with significantly altered and longer routes to avoid sensitive airspace, and with extended travel times.
Qatar Airways We have confirmed that all flights to and from Doha have been temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatar’s airspace. The airline said it continues to work with government authorities and aviation regulators to support affected travelers and will resume operations once airspace reopens. However, delays may continue even after service resumes.
Additional staff has been deployed. Hamad International Airport and other major airports are working to manage disruption and support stranded passengers, while airlines are emphasizing that safety is their top priority.
UAE based emirates airlines It has also temporarily suspended all flights to and from Dubai and urged passengers to check for updates before heading to the airport. The airline said it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with authorities while providing affected travelers with rebooking options, refunds or alternative travel arrangements.
The confusion extended beyond local news agencies. virgin atlantic It canceled London Heathrow-Dubai flight VS400 and warned flights to the Maldives, India and Saudi Arabia could experience longer journey times due to route changes. British Airways It has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain and canceled flights to Amman until Wednesday. In a dramatic turn of events, flight BA123 from London Heathrow to Doha had to be diverted just before reaching its destination. at the same time, Wizz Air Flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman were suspended immediately, and services to Saudi Arabia were also canceled until Tuesday.
The wave of cancellations continues. lufthansa, air indiaand turkish airlines It also announced several flight suspensions to destinations across the region. With key Middle East airspace restricted or closed, the global aviation map was dramatically reshaped overnight. Airports are deploying emergency staff, airlines are scrambling to revise schedules, and thousands of travelers remain in uncertainty as the world waits for airspace to reopen and normal operations to resume.
Pakistan strongly condemns unjustified attacks on Iran