The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Friday said that Pakistan’s airspace has been closed for all overflying (transit) flights till March 9.
According to a notification issued on Friday, all transit flights flying east to west and vice versa will be diverted till Saturday 3 pm. A few of the overflying flights from north and south of Pakistan’s airspace will be allowed. The notification further revealed that only a particular part of the airspace can be utilised for incoming and departing flights.
Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur airports which were set to reopen on Friday will remain closed for an additional 24 hours.
Airports across Pakistan where flight operations were resumed earlier this week will continue to operate as per schedule till 5 am on March 15. Flight operations at Karachi, Multan, Chitral, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad airports will run as per schedule till 5 am on March 15.
Flight operations at most airports had resumed over the week, however, the reopening of the airspace nationwide had been delayed. Pakistan had closed its airspace last week following escalating ties with India.
Flights between Asia and Europe were disrupted, stranding thousands of passengers, although airlines were later able to reroute through China many flights that normally pass over Pakistan.
Flights from Singapore to Europe that usually cross Pakistan and Afghanistan, for example, were rerouted westwards over Oman, adding more than an hour’s flying time and boosting fuel costs. Iran also saw heavier use of its airspace, officials said.