KARACHI: International carrier Emirates announced that it is halting flights in and out of Peshawar “until further notice”.
In a short statement, the UAE-based airline said: “We can confirm that we are suspending our flights to Peshawar for operational reasons. This will take effect immediately (from 16 December) until further notice.”
It added that services to other points in Pakistan Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Sialkot continue to operate as scheduled.
Booking a ticket for Peshawar on the Emirates website currently gives the following message:
The short statement further said: “We remain committed to our customers in Pakistan and hope to resume services to Peshawar as soon as operational conditions allow us to do so”. The carrier also apologised for the inconvenience.
Meanwhile according to a private news channel many other International airline companies have informed the Civil Aviation Authority about the ceasure of flight operations in Peshawar. They have instructed all its staff and crew in Peshawar to shift to Islamabad.
Airline companies have taken the step in view of the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) capital, sources said.
On the other hand, the crew of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) leased airplanes have also refused to fly to Peshawar.
The announcement comes shortly after a shocking Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, which left 141 people dead, most of them children.
