Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced the suspension of multiple international routes, including flights to Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and select Middle Eastern destinations, due to a sharp rise in jet fuel prices.
The airline stated that services to Gulf countries, excluding Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will remain suspended until the end of April. Flights to Beijing will halt from April 11, while services to Kuala Lumpur will stop from April 14.
Fuel costs, which account for a major portion of PIA’s operating expenses, have surged from around $85–90 per barrel to $150–200 per barrel in recent weeks, following heightened tensions in the Middle East affecting energy supply chains, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.
To manage rising costs, PIA has limited flights to the UAE to 16 per week, aiming to control expenses without transferring the full financial burden to passengers.
