Over 500 Flights Cancelled: Regional Conflict Severely Disrupts Pakistan’s Air Travel, The escalating regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has caused severe disruptions to air travel across Pakistan. According to official data from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), more than 500 domestic and international flights have been cancelled over the past three days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major airports nationwide.
Read More: Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban for Indian Aircraft Until March 23 Amid Persistent Tensions
The Current Situation
What began as a localized suspension has turned into a massive aviation bottleneck. Major Pakistani hubs, including Jinnah International Airport (Karachi), Allama Iqbal International Airport (Lahore), and Islamabad International Airport, have reported widespread cancellations and delays.
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Impacted Destinations: Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, Sharjah, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Iran have faced the most significant disruptions.
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Operational Status: While Pakistan’s domestic airspace remains officially open, the closure of neighboring airspaces—particularly in the Gulf—has forced airlines to ground their fleets or reroute operations, rendering many standard corridors unusable.
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Cargo Disruption: The suspension of air cargo services has halted the transport of essential goods, impacting supply chains and industrial exports.
PAA Issues New NOTAM
In response to the volatile situation, the Pakistan Airports Authority has issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM):
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Partial Airspace Closure: Specific Air Traffic Service (ATS) route segments in the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions (FIRs) will remain unavailable for commercial operations daily from 09:00 to 15:00 PKT through March 31, 2026.
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Safety Protocols: The authority is directing airlines to coordinate closely before operating to manage the limited parking capacity at major airports, which are currently hosting diverted international flights.
What Travelers Should Know
While flights to and from Saudi Arabia currently remain operational, the situation is fluid.
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Contact Your Airline: Passengers are strongly advised not to head to the airport without confirming their flight status with their airline’s call center or website.
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Stranded Passengers: Many foreign airlines have issued waivers allowing travelers to rebook without additional fees.
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No Timeline for Resumption: Authorities have yet to provide a definitive timeline for the restoration of normal flight schedules, as it remains dependent on the broader geopolitical landscape.
