Embassy Teams Deployed at Saudi Airports to Help Pakistani Pilgrims

The Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah have established helplines and deployed teams at regional airports to assist Pakistani passengers facing flight disruptions, state media reported on Sunday.

Several countries in the region closed their airspace after Iran launched strikes on US bases in the Gulf following joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran last week.

The conflict has disrupted key air corridors, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute thousands of flights.

Hundreds of international and domestic flights in Pakistan have been cancelled since the conflict began on Feb. 28, with most affected routes operating between Pakistan and destinations in the Middle East.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Pakistani diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia have set up round-the-clock helplines and deployed staff at airports to facilitate stranded passengers.

The state broadcaster noted that the Middle East conflict has particularly affected Pakistani Umrah pilgrims and other travellers in western regions of Saudi Arabia.

However, the situation of Pakistani pilgrims and passengers in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah remains stable, although some minor operational restrictions and risk advisories are in place in the airspace.

Earlier, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) rejected media reports claiming that Pakistan’s airspace would be partially closed between March 3 and March 31.

The authority clarified that Pakistan’s entire airspace remains open, safe, and available for all civil aviation traffic, including commercial flights. It added that airlines may use alternative routes when necessary due to regional developments.

“There are no restrictions on commercial operations, arrivals, departures, or overflights across Pakistan,” the PAA said, adding that air traffic controllers and airport teams are continuing to manage operations normally.