23/09/2008

British Airways Suspends Pakistan Flights "Indefinitely"

British Airways has announced it will be suspending its flights to and from the Pakistani capital Islamabad "indefinitely" following the bombing of a hotel earlier this week.

BA, which normally operates six weekly services, said its decision was made "in light of the current security situation".

The Marriott hotel in Islamabad was the scene of a massive bomb attack that injured around 250 people - including six British citizens - and left more than 53 dead. A suicide bomber rammed a truck with over half a tonne of explosives into the security gates of the hotel on Saturday, causing mass devastation.

The airline issued a statement confirming it had cancelled all six of its weekly services to Islamabad, saying: "The safety and security of our customers, our staff and our operation is always our absolute priority."

BA also said it was in further discussions with a number of operators about the possibility of providing additional options for passengers to travel to and from Islamabad.

Passengers have been advised to contact their local British Airways office for further advice.

(JM)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 August 2003
BA suspends flights to Saudi Arabia over 'security concerns'
British Airways has announced that it is to suspend all flights to Saudi Arabia "due to heightened security concerns in the region". BA said that it would suspend flights until further notice follows discussions earlier today between the airline and the British government's Department for Transport.
09 March 2011
Major UK Studios Fund British Films
Film and Television Studios Group Pinewood Shepperton have announced plans to provide funding for smaller British film productions.
10 September 2007
Brown To Unveil Plan To Create 500,000 Jobs
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to unveil plans to create half a million new jobs in an effort to have "A British job for every British worker.
26 March 2004
'Delight' at rescue of British cavers
The government has spoken of its "delight" at the rescue of six British cavers who became trapped in a flooded underground system in Mexico. The six men, five of whom are believed to belong to the British armed forces, became trapped on March 17 after rains raised the water level in the cave, cutting off their exit.
17 June 2014
British Social Attitudes Report: 'True British' Must Speak English
The 31st NatCen Social Research British Social Attitudes survey of 3,000 people shows UK citizens have harder attitudes over immigration, welfare or the requirements which make a person British. 95% of them found that it is important to speak English to be "truly" British, up from a 86% in 2003.