Authority explains certain ATS routes within Karachi, Lahore regions to be affected daily between 9am and 3pm
Passengers wait outside at Jinnah International airport after all domestic and international flights were cancelled 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, dismissing recent reports of a partial closure.
In a statement, the authority said NOTAM A0134/26 does not indicate a partial shutdown of Pakistani airspace. Instead, it refers only to the temporary unavailability of certain Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes during designated hours.
The PAA explained that specific ATS routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions will be affected daily between 9am and 3pm.
Pakistan Airports Authority – Clarification on Recent NOTAM
Some media & social media accounts (@shaheryarhassan @KazmiWajahat) are incorrectly claiming Pakistan’s airspace has been “partially closed” for 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 cautioned that misinterpretation of NOTAMs and unverified news reports can cause unnecessary concern or inconvenience for 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 secure aviation operations nationwide.
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A day ago, it was reported that the PAA decided to suspend certain air routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions during specified hours, citing the evolving regional situation.
Along with passengers, air cargo services have also been suspended, halting the transport of various goods, including food items and other supplies. It is still unclear when flights will resume, the reports added.
According to PAA data, more than 500 flights departing from and arriving at various airports across Pakistan were cancelled. The suspension of air cargo services also disrupted the delivery of food and other goods, causing difficulties not only for passengers but also for industrialists.
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 were cancelled.
