KARACHI: Amid US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on different countries in the Middle East, Pakistan’s air travel operations to the region remain severely disrupted with 166 flights cancelled in the last about 24 hours.
Authorities said the ongoing instability has significantly impacted flight schedules across major Pakistani airports.
A private airline flight from Islamabad to Riyadh was diverted and landed in Karachi. In Karachi, 37 flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Doha, and Abu Dhabi were cancelled.
From Lahore, 32 flights to Kuwait, Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Bahrain were called off.
Similarly, 37 flights from Islamabad to Baghdad, Bahrain, Kuwait, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Sharjah were cancelled. Peshawar also saw 18 cancellations on routes to Doha, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah.
In addition, 16 flights from Faisalabad to Doha, Dubai, Bahrain, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi were cancelled, while 18 flights from Multan to Doha, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were also scrapped.
Both scheduled flights from Quetta to Sharjah operated by a foreign airline were cancelled as well.
The widespread cancellations have caused inconvenience for thousands of passengers, as uncertainty continues due to the volatile regional security situation.
