Pakistan announce closure of air routes in Karachi, Lahore as over 500 flights canceled

2026-03-02 - 08:04

LAHORE – The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has announced the temporary closure of specific air routes in Karachi and Lahore regions due to ongoing Iran-US conflict that has severely disrupted flight operations in Pakistan. According to a NOTAM issued by the authority, these air routes will remain closed from March 3 to March 31, between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm daily, during which no commercial flights will be allowed to operate on these routes. Over the past three days, more than 500 domestic and international flights have been canceled due to ongoing disruptions in air traffic. Thousands of travelers remain stranded, and air cargo services have also come to a standstill, causing delays in the delivery of critical goods, including food supplies and other essential shipments. According to the Pakistan Airport Authority, more than 500 flights to and from various airports have been impacted. The suspension of cargo operations has resulted in further delays in shipping important goods. These disruptions are being attributed to the closure of airspace in several countries, making it uncertain when normal flight operations will resume. Currently, flights to and from Saudi Arabia are still operational. However, if the situation continues or worsens, further interruptions to air traffic are anticipated.