RAWALPINDI / LAHORE: Hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded at major airports across Pakistan due to widespread flight disruptions, with many unable to reach their destinations following last-minute cancellations.
Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Sialkot airports were the hardest hit as air traffic came to a standstill for several hours amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. However, flight operations gradually resumed at these airports on Thursday after temporary suspensions.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) initially announced that flights at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport would remain suspended until midnight, but operations resumed earlier than expected. Similarly, flights at Islamabad, Lahore, and Sialkot airports started again by the evening.
Earlier in the day, the PAA had temporarily halted flights at Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot airports until noon on Thursday, citing operational reasons. Islamabad International Airport also briefly paused its operations during the day.
Later, the PAA extended the closure at Lahore, Islamabad, and Sialkot airports until 6pm, eventually confirming their reopening.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) confirmed that the ongoing security situation in the country had severely impacted air travel nationwide.
“For air safety reasons, some routes have been restricted as a precautionary measure, affecting several flights,” a PIA spokesperson explained. “The temporary closure of air routes was necessary to safeguard the assets of domestic carriers and ensure the safety of passengers.”
PIA urged passengers to be patient and cooperate with the airline staff. The airline’s call center was in active contact with affected travelers. For passengers on diverted flights, PIA made arrangements for meals and accommodation, advising passengers to check flight statuses via the PIA website or helpline before heading to the airport.
Passengers Left Stranded
Many passengers expressed frustration over the last-minute cancellations. One passenger, scheduled to fly from Lahore to Washington via Doha early Thursday morning, had their flight rescheduled for later that day.
Ghazala Bibi, another passenger, reported that her flight to Dubai from Sialkot was abruptly canceled due to the sudden closure of the airport.
Passengers arriving from abroad also faced significant challenges due to flight diversions. Domestic travelers experienced similar disruptions, with flight operations affected for a third consecutive day due to intermittent airport closures.
“Domestic flights have been severely impacted over the past three days,” an official said.
The recent Haj flight operations have also been nearly suspended due to the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.
A tour operator informed mediathat most international airlines had suspended flights to and from Pakistan until May 10. Meanwhile, the PAA continued to issue updated notices to airmen (Notams) to inform them of the status of airport operations and the opening of airspace.
