Over 500 flights cancelled in Pakistan amid regional tensions

Due to the regional conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US, like other countries, air operations from Pakistan to the Middle East have been severely disrupted. Over the past three days, more than 500 domestic and international flights have been cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Along with passengers, air cargo services have also been suspended, halting the transport of various goods, including food items and other supplies. It is still unclear when flights will resume.

According to data from the Pakistan Airport Authority, more than 500 flights departing from and arriving at various airports across Pakistan have been cancelled. The suspension of air cargo services has also disrupted the delivery of food and other goods, causing difficulties not only for passengers but also for industrialists.

Flights from Pakistani airports, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, and Multan, operated by PIA, private airlines, and foreign carriers to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and other countries have been cancelled.

Airport sources stated that some airspaces are closed, leading to the suspension of operations. Currently, there is no information on when flights will resume. Only flights to and from Saudi Arabia are continuing.

If the situation persists or worsens, air operations may face further disruptions. According to Khawaja Ayub Naseem, a senior leader of the Travel Agents Association, fear and uncertainty are also causing many Umrah pilgrims to hesitate to travel.

Read: US-Iran conflict disrupts thousands of flights as travel chaos deepens

Hundreds of pilgrims had booked tickets via Dubai. While ticket refunds are possible, hotel bookings are non-refundable. If the situation continues, travel agents could face losses amounting to millions of rupees.

While Pakistan's airspace remains fully available and secure, airlines have adjusted operations in response to the evolving security situation and restrictions in neighbouring airspace.

Karachi's Jinnah International Airport witnessed extraordinary activity over the weekend, with dozens of flights of foreign airlines diverted to Karachi, creating scenes reminiscent of the 1990 Gulf crisis.

According to aviation sources, a large number of foreign airlines were rerouted to Karachi as regional airspace restrictions and security concerns forced precautionary diversions. Several aircraft were temporarily parked during the day, while many others landed for refuelling.

In view of the extraordinary influx, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Saturday issued a formal NOTAM highlighting limited aircraft parking space at the airport and directing airlines and cockpit crew to ensure prior coordination before operating into Karachi.

A PAA spokesperson said overall, 27 flights were handled, including diversions, return flights, technical landings and rerouted operations.

Read more: Karachi airport becomes hub for diverted Gulf flights amid escalating Mideast conflict

Karachi airport alone managed 13 diversions, including technical refuelling stops. In addition, four diversions were recorded in the Lahore Flight Information Region, while two return diversions were handled at Islamabad Airport. Three flights returned to their original or alternate destinations, while five rerouted flights transited through Karachi's airspace without landing and were provided alternate routes.

The sudden increase in traffic created operational challenges due to limited parking space, prompting airport authorities to caution airlines about possible delays.

The US and Israel launched joint strikes in Iran that killed 201 and injured over 700. Iranian state media confirmed that the 86-year-old supreme leader Ali Khamenei died while working in his central leadership compound, alongside family members, including his daughter and grandchildren.

Since then, Iran has targeted multiple US bases in surrounding Gulf States, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.