According to Radio Pakistan, some flight routes to Dubai and other Gulf countries have also been partially resumed from Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi.
The disruptions began after tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply following US and Israeli air strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. Iran later launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in multiple Gulf countries, widening the conflict and forcing several nations to close their airspace temporarily.
Also Read: Middle East war disrupts Pakistan flights — 145 more routes cancelled
Due to the situation, Pakistan’s international airports witnessed widespread flight cancellations. More than 570 flights to Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, were cancelled starting from Feb 28. Major airlines affected included Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, Pakistan International Airlines, Airblue, Flydubai, and Qatar Airways.
Officials said the disruption caused major financial losses for Pakistan’s aviation sector. The closure of airspace in several Gulf countries led to an estimated revenue shortfall of Rs20 billion for the country.
Meanwhile, the government has taken steps to assist Pakistanis stranded in different countries due to the crisis. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said special facilitation desks have been set up to help returning Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulates in Jeddah and Dubai are assisting travelers, while similar arrangements have also been made in Tehran, Zahedan, and Mashhad.
Also Read: Gulf war chaos halts flights, Pakistanis stranded despite valid visas
The crisis has also affected global aviation. Internationally, more than 13,000 flights have been cancelled because of the conflict. Aviation analytics company Cirium estimates that about 900,000 airline seats operate daily in the region, suggesting that the number of affected travelers may have already crossed one million worldwide.
