BA cancels Pakistan flights indefinitely: airline
BA cancels Pakistan flights indefinitely: airline
Islamabad: British Airways has “indefinitely" cancelled all flights to the Pakistani capital Islamabad amid security concerns after the bombing of the Marriott hotel, the airline said Tuesday, 23 September.
BA issued a statement confirming the cancellation of its six weekly services to Islamabad, the only destination it flies to in Pakistan, a day after saying that it was only temporarily suspending flights.
“In light of the security situation in Pakistan, British Airways has cancelled its flights from Islamabad to Heathrow indefinitely," a British Airways statement said.
“The safety and security of our customers, our staff and our operation is always our absolute priority."
A suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with more than half a tonne of explosives into the security gates of the Marriott on Saturday, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 260.
BA said that it would only restart flights to Pakistan when it was sure that the nuclear-armed Islamic republic was safe to fly to.
“The airline will resume its flights as soon as the security situation improves in the country," an Islamabad-based spokesman for the airline told AFP.
Customers with bookings who had not yet started journeys to or from Islamabad could apply for a full refund, while those mid-way through the journey should contact BA for their options, the airline said.
“BA is in discussion with a number of operators to provide additional options for passengers to travel to or from Islamabad," the statement said.
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