PESHAWAR: Emirates Airlines has decided to take precautionary measures and suspend its flights to and from Peshawar due to security reasons after unidentified gunmen attacked a PIA aircraft in Peshawar on June 24, Emirates website reported.
"Emirates has suspended flights to and from Peshawar effective 25th June 2014 until further notice, due to the security situation at the destination," said UAE-based airline, adding that passengers booked to travel during 25th-27th June could cancel their booking, rebook to travel at a later date, or to fly to another Emirates destination in Pakistan.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of the Peshawar airport attack, which led to the death of one woman while two others were injured.
Emirates stated that they cannot risk the security of their passengers and have to move forward with the suspension, “as this situation is beyond the control of Emirates, liability towards our passengers is limited in accordance with Emirates’ Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage.”
Etihad follows suit
Etihad Airways' flight EY261 from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar, which was scheduled to depart on June 24 at 11pm local time, has also been cancelled, according to a statement released by the airline.
Affected passengers in Abu Dhabi and Peshawar have been re-booked to travel on alternative Etihad Airways services to and from Pakistan.
The airline’s next flight to Peshawar, scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi on Thursday night, 26 June is still under review. The safety of Etihad Airways passengers and staff is of paramount importance and the airline will continue to monitor the situation closely.
All affected Etihad Airways’ passengers are being kept fully informed about the situation.
The move comes only days after the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific announced on Tuesday that it will be suspending flights to Pakistan from this month. The decision came as a result of the attack at Karachi airport which forced insurance premiums on aircraft to shoot up.
COMMENTS (56)
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@Pakistan who says airport security comes under CAA which is federal body.
I mean, seriously? Hah, the airport is NOT attacked, a plan was attacked in civil area just before landing.
@Last Word: Lol! Those should be your last words. What happened after that? You came back to your senses, didn't you? What are you talking about? What wealth has Modi dug up or going to? There is no wealth here. It's just poverty & joblessness everywhere. His food of hatred don't feed us, that's what he has.
@wasim Pakistan needs a strong leader like Modi to tap its enormous wealth. Try him, all in Pakistan will become rich.
Bye bye- International cricket, foreign travel and now flights. What next ?
First international cricket teams refused to come to Pakistan for playing after attack on Sri Lankan cricket team and now international flights are ignoring to come to Pakistan for high security risks and terror attacks.Where Pakistan is moving under the badly failed PML-N's government and leadership????
@Akthar:
Why should another muslim country tolerate terrorism?
The simple solution for protecting civilian aircraft in Pakistan is to have them all declared as being a United States Drone. Given that there has not been even one recorded attempt by anyone in Pakistan to shoot down a US Drone, one can be assured that civilian Aircraft will enjoy complete immunity from harm if they are declared to be US Drones.
There is a light of hope fir travelers; But they have to travel to larry or bus stand to get on for Karachi. From there they get a ferry/launch or boat to Yemen or Muscat or Oman. And, like early days they fight their way into deeper territory, some possibly loose their head in suspicion of drug traffickers. Sad, but not a bad idea for winners. The friendship deal dead line that could have been with Taliban, came and gone while we were manipulating about Mush & Qadri!
In short order Cathay Pacific has been joined by Emirates and Etihad in suspending flights to Pakistan.
The way foreign airlines are deserting Pakistan, very shortly I expect that it will be announced that the only foreign flights visiting Pakistan will be Drones.
@Rizwan ...There is secret influence from behind the scenes to isolate Pakistan....
I have to agree with you! The entire world was desperate and going out their way to welcome pakistanis to their lan. The other other countries got jealous of all the attention and respect being given to the pakistan that their khoofia agencies RAW,MOSSAD,CIA,MI5 and KHAD got together and hatched this nefarious plan. However, the pakistanis like your self are no fools, they can smell a conspiracy with their eyes closed.
Wow it is amazing how many are passionate about Pakistan and Islam without a cause. While it may make you feel proud, you have to imagine what you leave for your children to inherit. Looks like people are clueless about what is just and what isn't. If all foreign airlines vacate PIA can rule! is a thought. But it is a broken thought. What a ridiculous argument it would be. The cost of operating PIA aircraft will be prohibitive that PIA can't stay afloat. Normally no airline will attempt a boycott. They suspend temporarily. But when a major decision comes, it will come as a sanction from international aviation authority. PIA is a signatory to it and will probably abide by it too although they wouldn't project it that way. Instead they will manufacture a conspiracy and blame on it. Small private airliners can fly but not major carriers. Although a few countries and a few individual cricket players expressed safety concerns in playing in Pakistani territory, it was an international body that ruled against playing in Pakistani territory. Tell me why can't PCB attempt to convince UAE, Bangladesh or Srilanka to come and play? Same analogy here. All we can do is to continue to wine about international and foreign conspiracy.
@Adnan Siddiqi: Airport are Federal Government's responsibility. If Nawaz Sharif and Company cannot handle Federal Government, they should leave government in Capable hands.
Failure of Nawaz and Imran govts.
Look at what is happening in the Middle East in the name of Arab Spring. Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, muslim countries are in turmoil. And now Pakistan is being driven in the same direction. Master planner is succeeding in all it's plans.
@wasim: This is really true suggestion and I am very happy to read , We have to think better way rather to complain all the time what other are doing with us.
Everyone take a chill pill. Imran Khan and TUQ will build a NAYA Pakistan where rivers of milk and honey are going to flow soon.
@Faraz: From Syria to Iraq, Kenya to Malaysia: How new era of Islamic fundamentalism is spreading fear and chaos around the world
This is the major headline from a British newspaper and how does one expect any confidence to fly
@sterry: Please all note that @sterry has conveniently neglected to name those "foreign agencies" and "foreign enablers" that he claims to exist! @wasim And just where is Pakistan going to get the money to accomplish building that "high speed railway to the Mideast"????
@Jafri: Speak for yourself; The majority of us remain proud Pakistanis because we see the resilience of the fighting men defeating foreigners and terrorists in the border regions. Don't you think the anti state cowards who are funded by foreign agencies want you to feel despair and give up? Don't give them the satisfaction. Yes, airplane attacks are scary but they were expected; I am sure more violence can be expected from cowards who attack women, schools, police anything. Pakistan will defeat the cowards and their foreign enablers.
This was such a no-brainer to guard against, Whenever I've flown into Rawalpindi/Islamabad airport, as the plane comes into land, flying over the slums that surround the approach, I always feel the plane is vulnerable to a militant mullah shooting from his roof top.
Just secure the approaches and push people back.
As usual. We work like slaves for our Arab brothers, let them hunt those houbara bustards to their hearts' content, and this is how they reward us? Just like the Indians built Silicon Valley, we have built Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Our so called "brothers" should not forget that. I hope they are considering making a huge monetary donation to make up for this!!
Who ever is capable should do hijrat...soon u wont even get pia to run away...It a jungle here its survival for the fittest...please pray for the women who died on pia
@junaid: "Did not expect this from our Muslim country"
Muslims today are viewed suspiciously by the rest of the World and also confirmed by ex President Musharaf when he famously said: "Today we are the poorest, the most illiterate, the most backward, the most unhealthy, the most un-enlightened, the most deprived, and the weakest of all the human race". I am glad I don't live in a Muslim country and have to confess that I sometimes have to pretend that I am not a muslim. Nothing, especially law and order, works in a muslim country.
@LuvPak: The extent and sheer scale of delusion prevalent in this society is staggering. "Their Brothers"!! Do you seriously believe that these half crazed, unwashed animals wish the people well and care enough for their wellbeing not to shoot at planes ??!! This after losing more than 50,000 of your compatriots to these good Samaritans. Pakistan needs some sort of deep social surgery and reverse indoctrination. The malaise is much deeper than it seems .
@junaid: Who exactly bequeathed "YOUR" Muslim country to you? The UAE is neither Islamic and not is it yours. Your Islamic country is the one that is bleeding religion from every orifice. Maybe this shall stop only when all the religion is bled out of it.
@Akthar: Comments on this site on occasion cause me to wonder how people can : A. Be so ignorant B. Proclaim to the rest of the world that they are cave people disguised as modern, educated folk
An airline is a BUSINESS!!!! Businesses are businesses. They DONT HAVE a religion. Do you have any clue of the kind of insurance premia the airlines will have to cough up as a result of this demonstration of love by those that were till recently proxies of the state. Why would any airline run the risk of endangering the lives of its personnel, its property (airplanes cost money, believe me they do) as well as the lives of its customers. It defeats logic and makes for poor business sense. Ergo, they have refused to fly to Peshawar. If this doesn't make you understand the silliness oozing from your post, nothing else can.
Passengers to Travel to Islamabad, maybe! Terrorists are really being beaten from every corner. First, they were chased and all killed at Karachi Airport. Then flushed out from Waziristan. They really can't tell the difference between army & civilian planes. They are shooting at their own brothers & their source of income. Airlines have to save the passengers and crew from any future devastating incident.
Did not expect this from our Muslim country
@Nida Alvi: this is the effect of operation where army/federal giovt is involved.
@Nida Alvi: I think you were in a rush to make your comment but I think you are forgetting someone's dealing with IDP's. And FYI dharna's are in Islamabad and Lahore!
@Akhtar: Why should you expect anything different from the UAE simply because they are Muslim? They are operating a business and will of course look to protect their assets. Suspending operations in Pakistan has nothing to do with religion. Please, let's not drag Islam into everything.
@Nida Alvi: Shame on the federal government as well. This is the Naya Pakistan and the Changed Pakistan the two parties promised to us.
@Akthar: why do you see everything from the lens of religion ? why do not see the business angle/ risk perception and there is little to mitigate it. . Does a Muslim shop keeper charges you less in comparison to a Non Muslim one for the same product.Concept of UMMAH is in the minds of Pakistanis only while other Muslim countries don't give importance to it.See the fights/ killings in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Pakistan (Muslims vs Muslims).
@Rizwan:
The policies of using strategic assets isn't secret nor is the fact that it has backfired. Pakistan reputation in the World has been in steady decline for years and issues like nuclear proliferation, nexus of terrorism, OBL etc are the issue .. not "secret influence".
Not a proud Pakistani anymore :(
@Rizwan: sir, definitely there is influence / efforts so that all airlines stop flying to and fro Pakistan. thus PIA the national carrier will get a boost in occupancy rate and will come out of the red, rather earn high profit. A great innovative way to revive the ailing PIA. .
Shame on inefficient government of KPK ! Wait, their leaders are too busy in dharnas, dharnas & more dharnas... leaving aside any security or governance.
If more airlines follow this, I reckon travelling on a boat will be better then travelling on PIA
Ramazan mubarak!
I doubt, if every international airline shut down their operations in Pakistan, it will be huge loss for country. People will be forced to come back to Pakistan and major revenue source of country (Remittance) will impact the economy as well as country reputation.
Should not worry on it, make it opportunity and take it opportunity to that cancellation by big business group. They were not running flights for free , They were earning huge sum of money . Try to start own one. Just accept it as positive . Pak has potential just need to stream line. They will regret one day never allow them again.
Pakistan's security situation is deteriorating very rapidly. It is very unfortunate that while Pakistan's army is sacrificing their lives to curb menace of terrorism there are many politicians who are busy in their dharna/jalsa/strike politics. Now there is a new fitna who has joined them and ready to take things to another extreme.
It is high time for Pakistan. Whatever one's difference or opinion are for sitting government everyone should keep them aside and support it. We need to stand as one nation behind our army so that it can finish the job it is suppose to do. Also, it is incumbent on every citizen of Pakistan to NOT have any tolerance for terrorist mole who live within the society. By exposing those moles they will not only be doing a favor to the nation but it will be their jihad.
@Rizwan: Please do not bother to take your head out of the sand. Blame the rest of the world but do nothing to look at our own glaring faults and weaknesses.
so embarrassing but Any class A airline would have done that. We must accept its not waziristan only, the whole country is in state of war or thats what the outside world thinks about us. On the top of that r these airport attacks first karachi and now peshawar are giving world the message that situation is getting worse...... its high time for Every institution gov: or private to play its role in protecting national assets. Let own our land and pay every bit to save it
People coming to Pakistan can't because airports are attacked and airplanes are shot at. People leaving Pakistan can't because they need polio certificates. KUDOS to the government for making Pakistan an epic model of a failed state.
Pakistani government shall lease at least 10 777’s and 12 A320 to end foreign airline reliance. It can help boost PIA profits and later these planes can be acquired.
Airports are under attack, aircrafts are being fired at, airlines curtailing business from Pakistan and dollar on the rise.........I congratulate from the bottom of my heart to the champions and torchbearers of "CHANGE" "NAYA PAKISTAN" and "GREEN REVOLUTION" from bringing the country to the brink of extinction.
There is secret influence from behind the scenes to isolate Pakistan.
could be the life line PIA is waiting for...