ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) early Wednesday suspended its flight operations to Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for 48 hours, citing growing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
According to a spokesperson for the national carrier, PIA will temporarily limit its UAE operations to Al Ain while closely monitoring the evolving situation. The move comes as tensions in the region continue to disrupt both air and maritime activity.
The conflict, which erupted on February 28 following coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the reported assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has since escalated into a broader regional crisis.
Iran has responded with retaliatory attacks targeting US military assets and bases across Gulf countries, raising serious safety concerns for civilian aviation. The aviation sector has been particularly affected.
According to media reports, India’s IndiGo airline has also suspended flights to multiple Gulf destinations, including Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dammam, with operations halted until March 28.
Adding to the uncertainty, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority briefly announced a complete closure of the country’s airspace as a precautionary measure. Although the restriction was lifted later the same day, the temporary shutdown highlighted the volatility of the situation.
Maritime security has also deteriorated. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an attack on a Kuwait-flagged oil tanker approximately 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah. Earlier, on March 14, Fujairah port itself—one of the world’s key hubs for fuel storage and shipping—was targeted.
Strategically located on the Gulf of Oman, about 70 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz, Fujairah has become even more critical as the strait faces disruptions due to the conflict.
The port handles significant global energy flows, exporting over 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil and refined products—around 1.7% of global demand, according to industry data.
With both aviation and shipping routes under pressure, regional instability continues to ripple through global energy markets and transportation networks.
