Airlines 'suffer trillion-rupee' losses amid Iran-Israel war

Airlines have incurred losses running into trillions of rupees within four days due to widespread international flight cancellations linked to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

According to aviation sources, the closure of airspace across parts of the Middle East and the suspension of flight operations have led to substantial financial setbacks for carriers.

Over the past four days, approximately 9,500 flights have been cancelled from seven airports across Middle Eastern countries, resulting in an estimated revenue loss exceeding Rs215 billion.

In Pakistan, more than 400 flights have been cancelled during the same period.

Aviation officials claim that flight suspensions at international airports across Pakistan alone have caused airlines to incur revenue losses of around Rs10 billion.

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Sources warn that if the situation in the Middle East persists and flight operations are not restored promptly, airline operations could face severe disruption.

In addition to lost revenue, carriers are also bearing the cost of passenger refunds and accommodation, further compounding the financial impact.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia confirmed that flights to and from several regional and international destinations remain suspended due to ongoing regional developments.

In a statement issued on 2 March, the airline said services to Amman, Kuwait City, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Moscow and Peshawar will remain cancelled until 4 March at 23:59 GMT.

Saudia Arabia said affected passengers are being contacted directly and advised all travellers to check their flight status before proceeding to the airport.