A father of four has slammed an international airline after being told his family would be stranded in Pakistan because flights were being rerouted for Hajj.

Zaheer Mahmud was informed by Pakistan International Airlines that his wife and children would have to jet back three days later than planned and would be landing at London Heathrow instead of Manchester Airport.

The reason he was given was that flights were being redirected to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The 44-year-old, said: “I cannot imagine how an airline from a Muslim country did not anticipate flights needed for Hajj. There are only a set number of pilgrims from each country allowed to attend and issued with visas. It is downright silly."

Zaheer’s family have spent the past month visiting relatives in the Punjab province. They are due to arrive back at Manchester airport on Sunday in time for the children to return to school and college.

But two weeks ago he received an email saying their flight from Islamabad had been cancelled and they would instead be jetting back three days later and landing 230 miles away at Heathrow.

The airline agreed to put his family on the original flight and they will land in Manchester just one hour later than planned. But Zaheer is furious. He said: “Many Pakistanis in the UK will be affected by this — I had to push to get things sorted.”

Lukman Mahmood, manager at Top Choice Travel, said: “This situation happens every year. PIA get people to book seats and then realise that they need flights for Hajj so re-route three flights a week to Saudi Arabia."

No comment was available from PIA. But a source close to the company confirmed flights had been redirected to Saudi Arabia and alternative arrangements were offered to UK passengers.

By JOHNNY GREANEY