The authority explains that some ATS routes in Karachi and Lahore areas will be affected daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Passengers wait outside at Jinnah International Airport after all domestic and international flights were canceled in Karachi on May 7, 2025. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday clarified that Pakistan’s airspace is completely safe and fully available for all types of commercial operations, rejecting recent reports of a partial closure.
In a statement, the authority said NOTAM A0134/26 does not indicate a partial closure of Pakistani airspace. Instead, it only refers to the temporary unavailability of certain Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes during designated times.
The PAA explained that specific ATS routes in the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions will be affected daily between 9am and 3pm.
Airports Authority of Pakistan – Clarification on recent NOTAMs
Some media and social media accounts (@shaheryarhassan @KazmiWajahat) falsely claim that Pakistan’s airspace has been “partially closed” to commercial flights.
This is inaccurate and misleading. pic.twitter.com/b4QB547KTk– Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) March 3, 2026
“Alternative routes and airports are available and operating normally,” the statement said, adding that all scheduled commercial flights, including arrivals, departures and overflights, remain fully operational.
The authority warned that misinterpretation of NOTAMs and unverified news reports can cause unnecessary worry or inconvenience to passengers. The PAA urged the public and media to rely only on official sources for accurate information.
“Pakistan’s airspace is fully operational and safe for all commercial traffic,” the PAA said, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring smooth and safe flight operations across the country.
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A day ago, it was reported that PAA has decided to suspend some flight routes in Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions for specific hours, citing the developing regional situation.
Besides passengers, air cargo services were also suspended, disrupting the transportation of various goods including food and other supplies. It is still unclear when flights will resume, the reports add.
According to PAA data, more than 500 flights to and from various airports in Pakistan have been canceled. The suspension of air cargo services has also disrupted the delivery of food and other goods, causing difficulties not only for passengers but also for manufacturers.
Flights from Pakistani airports including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad and Multan operated by PIA, private airlines and foreign carriers to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and other countries have been cancelled.
