Pakistan Airspace Fully Operational, PAA Confirms Amid Reports of Limited ATS Route Availability
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that Pakistan's airspace is fully open and safe for all commercial activities, refuting recent claims of a partial closure.
Contrary to misinformation circulating, NOTAM A0134/26 does not signify a complete shutdown of Pakistani airspace but rather the temporary unavailability of specific Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes during certain hours. The affected ATS routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions will experience disruptions daily from 9am to 3pm.
The PAA emphasized that alternate routes and airports are accessible and functioning normally, ensuring that all scheduled commercial flights, including arrivals, departures, and overflights, are operating without hindrance.
To prevent unnecessary alarm or inconvenience to passengers, the authority cautioned against misinterpretation of NOTAMs and unreliable news reports, urging reliance on official sources for accurate information. Affirming the safety and efficiency of Pakistan's airspace, the PAA reiterated its commitment to facilitating smooth and secure aviation operations nationwide.
Recent reports indicated the PAA's decision to temporarily suspend specific air routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions due to evolving regional circumstances. This measure has led to the suspension of air cargo services, disrupting the transportation of various goods, including food items and supplies. The timeline for flight resumption remains uncertain.
According to PAA statistics, over 500 flights departing from and arriving at airports across Pakistan have been canceled. The suspension of air cargo services has not only impacted passengers but also caused challenges for industrialists due to disruptions in the delivery of essential goods.
Flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), private airlines, and foreign carriers from Pakistani airports like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, and Multan to destinations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and other countries have been affected by the cancellations.
