Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has temporarily suspended flights to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the next 48 hours due to the ongoing security situation in the region.
A spokesperson for PIA confirmed on Wednesday that, for the time being, flights to the UAE will continue only to Al Ain, Dawn.com reported.
The move comes as the Middle East conflict escalates following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes against US assets and bases across Gulf countries, prompting airlines to periodically cancel or adjust flights.
Indian carrier Air Indigo has also suspended flights to Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dammam until March 28.
Earlier this week, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority announced the temporary closure of the country’s airspace, though the restrictions were lifted later the same day, according to the state news agency WAM.
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The latest precaution comes after an attack on a Kuwait-flagged tanker 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah, reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). On March 14, Fujairah port, a major global hub for refueling vessels and exporting crude and refined fuels, was also targeted.
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Fujairah, situated on the Gulf of Oman roughly 70 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz, plays a crucial role in global energy flows, especially as the strait remains effectively closed due to the conflict. Last year, the port handled an average of 1.7 million barrels per day of crude and refined fuels, equivalent to about 1.7 percent of global daily demand, according to Kpler data.
