PIA Suspends Flights to Dubai and Other Gulf Countries as Iran–US Conflict Sparks Regional Crisis
- PIA suspended flights to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai due to security concerns.
- The decision follows Iran’s missile attacks on U.S. bases in the Gulf region.
- Affected passengers are being shifted to alternative flights; operations will resume once safe.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has temporarily suspended all flight operations to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai amid escalating regional tensions following Iran’s missile strikes on U.S. military bases in the Gulf. The national flag carrier cited “a war-like situation” and growing security risks as the main reasons for halting services to these destinations. The suspension will remain in place until the situation normalizes, the airline confirmed on Monday.
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The move comes in the wake of a dramatic escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict, triggered by U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. In response, Iran’s armed forces launched a retaliatory missile attack targeting American military installations in Qatar, Iraq, and Bahrain. Iran’s National Security Council later confirmed the attack, stating it had used the same number of missiles as the bombs dropped on its nuclear facilities. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, was one of the key targets. While no U.S. personnel were reported injured, the strikes prompted regional governments to take immediate protective measures.
Qatar temporarily shut its airspace shortly after the attack, and issued shelter-in-place warnings to foreign nationals following coordination with U.S. and British officials. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry later condemned the Iranian missile strike as a “violation of sovereignty and the UN Charter,” and warned that it reserves the right to respond. It also claimed that Qatari air defences successfully intercepted the incoming missiles. Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and Kuwait also closed their airspace in response to the growing threat, prompting disruptions in civil aviation operations across the Gulf.
As a result of these developments, PIA’s operations in the affected countries have been suspended indefinitely. The airline’s reservation department has begun transferring passengers to alternative routes, and all affected travelers have been urged to stay in contact with the PIA call center for updates. PIA expressed regret over the inconvenience caused but emphasized that the safety of passengers remains the airline’s top priority.
Pakistan’s embassy in the UAE has also issued an advisory urging its citizens to avoid military installations and seek shelter in safe areas amid heightened tensions. Meanwhile, other regional airlines have taken precautionary steps as well. Kuwait Airways suspended all departures, and Etihad Airways announced it is rerouting several flights on June 23 and 24 in response to airspace restrictions.
The Gulf region, home to several major U.S. military bases, has now become a flashpoint for a potentially broader conflict following Tehran’s aggressive response to American strikes. Iran’s leadership has maintained that its retaliation was targeted solely at U.S. military sites and poses no threat to neighboring countries. However, the unfolding crisis has already begun to affect civilian life and air travel, and authorities in the region remain on high alert.
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