ISLAMABAD/DUBAI: Pakistan’s commercial flights are taking longer routes and facing higher operational costs after Pakistani carriers stopped using United Arab Emirates airspace following recent attacks by Iran on U.S. installations in the Middle East.
According to reports from media house that presumably appears more aligned with the federal government, flights from Saudi Arabia’s Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina now fly east across Saudi Arabia, then south and west of the UAE to enter Omani airspace. From eastern Saudi Arabia they proceed via Muscat and the Gulf of Oman toward Pakistan. Flights departing cities across the UAE are also entering Oman and following the established route from Muscat to Pakistan instead of crossing the UAE interior.
The detours have increased journey times.
Flights between Jeddah or Riyadh and Pakistani cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad are taking about 25 minutes longer. Dammam–Islamabad services now take roughly 1 hour 40 minutes, while Dammam to Multan, Karachi and Lahore take about 1 hour 30 minutes. Flights from Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Fujairah to Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad are around 15 minutes longer.
Reports suggest that airlines have adjusted schedules and advised passengers to expect modest increases in travel time. Aviation authorities in the region are coordinating revised flight plans and monitoring the security situation. The rerouting will remain in place while regional tensions persist, and carriers will update passengers if conditions allow a return to more direct routes.
