ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s aviation sector faced yet another day of significant disruption as 62 scheduled flights were canceled today, affecting both domestic routes and major Middle Eastern hubs. The cancellations come amid escalating regional tensions and mounting financial pressure on airlines due to shifting flight paths.
According to aviation sources, the wave of cancellations has hit the country’s major international airports, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
The Jinnah International Airport in Karachi saw the highest impact, with 16 flights grounded. These included key routes to Muscat, Dubai, Sharjah, Dammam, Riyadh, and Baghdad. In Lahore, 11 flights were removed from the schedule, affecting travelers heading to Abu Dhabi, Medina, Fujairah, Dubai, Sharjah, and Riyadh.
The federal capital was not spared, as 15 flights from Islamabad to international destinations—including Fujairah, Dammam, Istanbul, Kabul, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Sharjah—were canceled. Additionally, the capital saw significant domestic disruption with 4 flights to Gilgit grounded. Karachi also reported 2 domestic flight cancellations.
In other parts of the country, 10 flights from Peshawar to Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah were called off, while Multan reported 4 flights to Doha and Dubai were missing from today’s schedule.
The crisis, it is pertinent to add here, is being exacerbated by the current geopolitical climate in the Middle East as aviation industry reports indicate that Pakistani carriers are facing increasingly high operating costs as they are forced to avoid certain segments of UAE and regional airspace.
Reports suggest skipping these traditional air corridors has led to longer flight durations and significantly higher fuel consumption. The detour not only strains the technical endurance of the aircraft but also adds a massive financial burden on airlines already struggling with surging jet fuel prices.
Aviation experts warn that the combination of safety-related rerouting and the resulting hike in operational expenses is making many scheduled flights financially unviable, leading to the current spike in cancellations.
Meanwhil,e airport authorities have advised passengers to check their flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport. While some airlines are offering re-bookings, the high volume of cancellations has created a massive backlog, with limited immediate alternatives for those traveling to the Gulf region.
Pakistan flights face higher operating costs as UAE airspace skipped: Report
