Flydubai has temporarily suspended its flight operations to and from Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar until October 26.
Although the airline confirmed that flights to and from Karachi will continue normally. This gave some relief to passengers travelling between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The news about suspended flights came through the airline’s inquiry office in Pakistan. The airline said the suspension is due to operational reasons. Although wider regional tensions and rising aviation costs are also reasons linked to affected airline schedules.
According to the report, flydubai had started operations to Islamabad and Lahore in July 2024. They later expanded its network to Peshawar in May the following year.
Moreover, the airline stated earlier that it is currently operating a reduced schedule across its network and advised passengers to regularly check their flight status to stay updated.
Although flydubai did not directly link the ongoing Iran conflict for the suspension, but the regional instability has created serious challenges for airlines overall. This instability has surged jet fuel prices sharply, putting financial pressure on airlines worldwide. In addition, this has eventually put force on many carriers to reduce flights or change schedules.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that Asian airlines could be among the hardest affected if fuel shortages and rising operating costs continue.
According to reports, passengers affected by these schedule changes are being contacted directly regarding rebooking and refund options. Travellers who booked through travel agents were advised to contact their agents for further assistance.
Overall, the airline asked travellers to continue monitoring official updates and social media announcements before travelling to the airport.
Earlier, Dubai airports increased flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) after restrictions on UAE airspace were lifted.
This marks the next stage of recovery for aviation in the region after the disruption previously caused by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Dubai Airports announced that airlines will gradually return to normal schedules as airspace conditions improve. However, it depends on the airport situation in the UAE, because aircraft must also pass through neighbouring countries’ airspace.
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