ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has received permission to operate two daily flights to the UAE, providing some relief to stranded passengers, amid ongoing Middle East tensions triggered by US-Israel strikes on Iran last week that led to widespread airspace closures including Iran’s, disrupting PIA’s Europe and Canada routes.
As per details available with MM News, PIA will run one daily flight each to Dubai and Abu Dhabi—cities severely battered over the past week by Iranian drone strikes targeting US diplomatic missions, military bases, and key ports like Jebel Ali—marking a partial return to Gulf operations after suspending services to UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Doha on February 28 due to the escalating conflict.
This limited approval from UAE authorities, amid stabilizing regional routes, stands out as a crucial and brave decision—especially as global airlines like Lufthansa remain reluctant to resume Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights despite UAE and US assurances, leaving stranded passengers to pay up to $350,000 for private jets to Riyadh—underscoring resilience in reconnecting vital expatriate links while PIA continues rerouting flights to Saudi cities like Riyadh and Madinah over the Arabian Sea.
It may be mentioned here that PIA’s Europe and Canada flights face ongoing delays due to reliance on Iranian overflight corridors, now forcing longer paths via Afghanistan and Tajikistan, while Saudi Dammam remains paused after a Bahrain incident. The airline had halted multiple Gulf routes earlier, but this UAE nod signals cautious optimism for expatriate travel and cargo amid the volatile security landscape.
