Update: Flight operations at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport have resumed following a brief suspension, according to a statement from the Pakistan Airports Authority.
The authority confirmed that operations were temporarily halted but have now returned to normal. It further stated that flight schedules at all other airports across the country remain unaffected and are continuing as per routine.
In a sudden move amid growing regional tensions, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has closed the airspace over Lahore and Sialkot, disrupting numerous domestic and international flight operations. Flights are diverted to Karachi airport.
According to an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Lahore airspace has been shut down. Just hours earlier, flight operations in the area had resumed after a previous suspension, but security concerns have led to another abrupt closure.
Adding to the disruption, airspace over Sialkot has also been closed for three and a half hours, further affecting air traffic in Punjab. Flights scheduled to pass through or land at Sialkot International Airport were either diverted or delayed, with airline authorities urging passengers to stay in contact for updates.