ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume its flight operations to the Sultanate of Oman from next week, the Pakistani embassy said on Friday.
The airline suspended flights to China, Malaysia and Gulf countries, except for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in early April, citing an increase in jet fuel prices.
The development came as the United States-Iran war widely disrupted oil, gas and cargo shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport a fifth of global energy supplies.
In a post on X, the Pakistani embassy in Muscat informed the Pakistani community in Oman that the airline will be resuming its flights from May 13.
“The national flag carrier will operate five flights per week, reconnecting Muscat with Islamabad, Lahore and Multan,” it said in a post shared on X.
There was no official word on the status of PIA flights to other countries.
PIA’s decision to suspend flights to multiple countries came as jet fuel prices soared from $85-90 to $150-200 per barrel, a financial hit for an industry where fuel accounts for up to a quarter of operating expenses.
Prior to that, the airline had announced that it was ending discounts given to students, bankers, senior citizens, journalists, retired military personnel and members of the Airports Security Force in view of the increase in fuel prices.
“Only children and newborns will continue to receive discounts,” the airline said on Monday.
