Riyadh flights resume via Jeddah amid airport closure

Riyadh flights resume via Jeddah amid airport closure

Flights to Riyadh have begun operating through alternative arrangements after the continued closure of King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia for the past 10 days, causing disruptions to flight operations between Pakistan and the kingdom.

According to the latest flight schedule, Saudi Arabian Airlines has started operating Riyadh-bound flights from Jeddah. Four flights carrying passengers from Karachi and Peshawar to Riyadh are scheduled to operate via Jeddah on Tuesday.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has also shifted most of its flights to alternative departure and arrival points, with several services already operating through Jeddah and Dammam to accommodate passengers affected by the closure.

Meanwhile, flight operations at Pakistani airports continue to face delays on several domestic and international routes, disrupting travel plans for passengers.

According to the flight schedule, two flights between Karachi and Lahore, PK-304 and PK-305, are running approximately three hours behind schedule. Two flights connecting Karachi and Islamabad, PA-200 and PA-201, have also faced delays of around four hours.

The disruption has also affected long-haul international travel. Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-783 from Karachi to Toronto is scheduled to depart at 3:50pm after a delay of six and a half hours.

Flights between Kabul and Islamabad have encountered even longer delays, with two services running approximately seven hours behind schedule.

Passengers travelling between Islamabad and Skardu are also facing disruptions, as four flights on the route have been delayed by around four and a half hours. Similarly, two flights connecting Lahore and Muscat are experiencing delays of up to four hours.

The continued changes to flight operations have added to travel uncertainty for passengers travelling between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as those using other domestic and international routes.

Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight schedules with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport, as departure times and operating arrangements may change.