Flight operations have been fully restored at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and across all major airports in Pakistan, according to a statement from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). The announcement came on Thursday night, confirming the resumption of normal flight services after a brief suspension earlier in the day.
The PAA spokesperson stated that all major airports in Pakistan, including Lahore and Multan, are now operational, with flights resuming without significant disruptions. Flight tracking services, such as FlightRadar24, confirmed the operations at these airports, indicating that flights are currently taking place.
Earlier in the day, operations at Karachi airport had been suspended from 12 p.m., although the PAA did not provide specific details on the reasons or expected duration of the disruption. Following the suspension, the PAA also issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to inform of the temporary closure of Lahore’s airspace. Additionally, the authority issued new flight operation instructions for Gilgit and Skardu airports, advising the airports to coordinate with air traffic control before resuming flights.
These measures followed an earlier suspension of flight operations at airports in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Sialkot due to heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Initially, the PAA had announced the closure of airports until 12 p.m. on Thursday, later extending the closure until 6 p.m. The PAA stated that the suspension was a precautionary measure due to “operational reasons” and the potential security threat posed by the ongoing military escalation.
In the aftermath of India’s missile strikes on Pakistan’s territory, several international airlines, particularly from Asia, canceled or rerouted flights. Flight tracking websites showed increased congestion in airspaces over Oman, the UAE, and Kuwait as airlines adjusted their routes to avoid Pakistan’s airspace. At the time of the strikes, 57 international flights were operating in Pakistan’s airspace.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office issued a statement condemning India’s actions, highlighting the serious risks posed to commercial aviation, particularly to Gulf airlines, due to the strikes. The prime minister emphasized that the strikes had endangered the lives of many passengers and created a significant threat to regional air traffic.
Earlier, in response to Indian aggression, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down five Indian fighter jets and one drone, while also destroying a brigade headquarters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This military action came after India launched missile strikes targeting multiple locations within Pakistan, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage.
As the situation develops, Pakistani authorities continue to monitor the safety of their airspace and ensure the safe operation of flights.
