Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport witnessed the cancellation of 20 flights to several Middle Eastern destinations on Wednesday, airport officials said.
Islamabad International Airport also reported major disruptions, with 18 flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait and Sharjah called off. In Lahore, Allama Iqbal International Airport suspended 18 flights heading to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
At Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, 16 flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Qatar and Abu Dhabi were canceled. Multan International Airport halted four flights operating to and from Dubai and Sharjah, while Sialkot International Airport saw eight flights to Dubai and Sharjah suspended.
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However, operations at Faisalabad International Airport remained unaffected, with international flights continuing to Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and other destinations.
Both local and international airlines were affected by the cancellations, including Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Air Arabia, PIA, AirBlue, Flydubai, Qatar Airways and Fly Jinnah. Airport authorities said that during the last 12 days more than 1,300 flights traveling between Pakistan and various Middle Eastern countries have been canceled.
The flight disruptions come as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. Airspace restrictions and closures over the UAE, Qatar, Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain have forced airlines to suspend many routes.
Thousands of Pakistani passengers have been stranded at airports since February 28 due to the situation. At present, only a limited number of relief flights from Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Bahrain are being permitted under strict regulations.