KARACHI: The national carrier, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has suspended 18 flights to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has suspended almost all the flights to and from Saudi Arabia from today until further notice.

The PIA official said that the suspension is temporarily for a week, therefore, we would reschedule all the flights from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Multan. Because of the Covid-19, if the suspension lasts longer and passengers demand their money back, the PIA will comply. 

The development comes as the Saudi government temporarily suspends entry into the Kingdom after a new strain of the coronavirus was identified in the United Kingdom. The mutation is believed to be more contagious.

A PIA spokesperson said the national carrier suspended 18 flights to and from the Kingdom today on the directives issued by the Saudi aviation authority. These include PK-9739 and PK-9760.

The flight suspension will remain in effect until the Kingdom opens borders again, following which the passengers will be accommodated.

The PIA spokesperson has asked affected passengers to register through the airline’s UAN 11-786-786 with their working phone numbers to receive timely updates.

The author is a senior business reporter with bylines in leading newspapers and magazines across Pakistan.

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