Amid escalating military tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States, air travel between Pakistan and several Middle Eastern destinations has faced severe disruption.
More than 500 domestic and international flights arriving at and departing from Pakistani airports have been canceled, according to data released by the Pakistan Airports Authority. Thousands of passengers remain stranded as airlines suspend operations on affected routes.
Air cargo services have also stopped on several corridors, interrupting shipments of food and other goods. Industry stakeholders said the suspension has created supply chain challenges in addition to passenger inconvenience. Authorities have not announced a timeline for the restoration of normal operations.
Flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines, private carriers and foreign airlines from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad and Multan to destinations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai, Turkey, Iraq and Iran have faced cancellations. Services to and from Saudi Arabia continue.
While Pakistan’s airspace remains open, neighboring airspace closures and security restrictions have prompted airlines to reroute or suspend flights.
Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport handled multiple foreign airline diversions over the weekend as carriers adjusted routes. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a NOTAM citing limited parking capacity and directed airlines to coordinate before operating into Karachi.