PIA suspends flights to Saudi Arabia following kingdom’s new COVID-19 restrictions

People stand in queue as they wait their turn to buy flight tickets outside Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) office in Islamabad on July 1, 2020 (AFP/File)

• Saudi Arabia has suspended all international commercial flights for a renewable week over coronavirus fears
• The suspension of PIA flights to the kingdom could be extended beyond a week, airline’s spokesperson says

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended its flight operations to Saudi Arabia and canceled all scheduled flights following instructions from the kingdom, a spokesperson at the national carrier said on Monday. 
Late on Sunday, Saudi Arabia suspended all international commercial flights for a renewable week except for the foreign flights already in the kingdom which will be allowed to leave, state news agency SPA reported, quoting an interior ministry source.
The source added the entry to the kingdom through land and sea ports will be also suspended for a renewable week, and these measures come after the spread of a new strain of COVID-19 in a number of countries
“All flights stand canceled,” PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan said, adding that PIA had suspended the flights after Saudi authorities restricted international flights. The suspension could be extended beyond a week, Khan said. 
A PIA handout said all flights scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia on Monday had been canceled.
“All affected passengers will be adjusted on flights after the restoration of service,” Khan said, adding that flights would remain shut until permission for their resumption was received from Saudi authorities.