/ 23 September 2008

BA cancels flights to Pakistan indefinitely

British Airways (BA) said on Tuesday it had cancelled flights to Pakistan indefinitely after a suicide truck bomb blast at a hotel in Islamabad at the weekend killed at least 53 people and heightened security fears.

”In light of the security situation in Pakistan we have cancelled our flights from Heathrow to Islamabad indefinitely,” British Airways said in a statement. ”The safety of our customers, crew and aircraft is of paramount importance.”

A spokesperson for the airline in Pakistan had said on Monday that the airline had temporarily suspended flights to the country.

The Czech ambassador and at least three other foreigners were among those killed in Saturday night’s blast at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad’s worst bomb attack, which wounded scores and which security officials said bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda. — Reuters