Pakistan extends partial closure of its airspace by another 24 hours

Partially restored operations at all active airports will remain unchanged till March 22: CAA

KARACHI: Airports in Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur will remain closed for all inbound and outbound air traffic by another 24 hours, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s airspace will remain closed for all overflying (transit) flights till Thursday, March 14, reads the CAA notification, adding that operations for all international flights entering the country’s airspace through India will also remain suspended for at least one more day.

The partially restored operations at all active airports of the country will continue unchanged till March 22, the notam further added.



Islamabad took the decision to shut its airspace on February 27, leaving thousands of travellers stranded and forcing carriers to reroute flights, after an aerial dogfight between Pakistan and Indian air forces.

Flights between Asia and Europe were also disrupted, stranding thousands of passengers.

Later, a partial resumption of flights followed a week of tension that appears to be easing after Pakistan released an Indian pilot shot down during an aerial clash over the Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK).