Over 200 flights cancelled amid Saudi, Gulf security crisis

PAKISTAN:

More than 200 flights have been cancelled and over 350 delayed by between two and 12 hours amid escalating tensions and deteriorating security conditions in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, leaving thousands of passengers facing travel disruptions.

Repeated delays, cancellations and complaints over inadequate passenger facilities have also triggered protests at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport.

Despite the regional tensions and security concerns, millions of domestic and international passengers have continued to travel through Lahore airport.

According to Pakistani airport sources, nearly 4.8 million passengers travelled through Allama Iqbal International Airport between January and September this year, including 3.5 million international and 1.2 million domestic passengers. In 2025, a total of 6.86 million passengers travelled through the airport. Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) officials said that, during the monsoon season, increased bird activity prompted the closure of both runways daily from 5am to 8am between July 5 and September 15 as a precautionary safety measure.

During July alone, 398,400 passengers travelled through the airport. Of 1,020 scheduled flights, 96 were cancelled and 326 were delayed.

Domestic and international airlines failed to provide affected passengers with meals and hotel accommodation in a timely manner, prompting protests and angry slogans at the airport.

The protests became so intense that personnel of the Airport Security Force (ASF) had to be called in to bring the situation under control. Umrah pilgrims accounted for a large proportion of those protesting, with many unable to perform Umrah at their intended time. Some lost a day of their pilgrimage, while others lost two days.