File Photo. Farooq Naeem—AFP
Two more international airlines join Cathay Pacific, which ended all flight operations to Pakistan after the June 8 attack on the Karachi airport.
Two international airlines on Wednesday suspended flight operations to Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport after over a dozen bullets pierced a Pakistan International Airlines plane as it was about to land.
“It is sad to confirm that, in addition to Cathay Pacific, two more international airlines have suspended flight operations to Peshawar,” said Mujahid Shah, an official of the Civil Aviation Authority in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa capital. Cathay Pacific suspended all flight operations to Pakistan after the June 8 attack on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport that left over 28 people dead, citing security and economic concerns.
“Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways have joined Cathay Pacific in suspending flight operations to Peshawar,” he added.
An Emirates spokesman, in an emailed statement, said: “Emirates has suspended flights to and from Peshawar effective June 25, 2014 until further notice, due to the security situation at the destination.” The statement assured affected passengers that they would be booked on alternative flights and could check emirates.com for more details. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused—however, the safety of our passengers and crew is a top priority and will not be compromised.”
Police told journalists they had arrested over 100 suspects in a search operation following the firing incident on the PIA plane.