Pakistan temporarily closed its airspace on Wednesday for all air traffic in response to Indian military strikes targeting alleged terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), carried out under Operation Sindoor.
The closure came shortly after the Indian armed forces launched coordinated missile strikes on nine locations linked to terrorist groups. The operation was in retaliation for the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
Initially, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) restricted airspace over Islamabad and Lahore, diverting incoming flights to Karachi. As tensions escalated, a full nationwide airspace closure was enforced for 48 hours as a precautionary measure.
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However, the airspace was reopened after approximately eight hours, and both international and domestic flight operations resumed on Thursday morning. Most flights took off from or landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Lahore airport.
A temporary sense of normalcy was short-lived in parts of the country, as aviation authorities again suspended air operations in Lahore for an additional 24 hours due to ongoing security assessments.
A significant build-up of passengers was seen at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, where delayed flights began clearing. The majority of both domestic and international services were restored, though under heightened monitoring.
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A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the resumption of flight operations. “Flights from West Asian countries and other destinations are now fully operational as per schedule,” the spokesperson said.
He also noted that domestic flight services had resumed and would continue “until further notice.”
In a rare update, the CAA revealed that an Uzbekistan Airlines flight from Tashkent successfully reached New Delhi via Lahore, reflecting limited but cautiously managed international transit through Pakistani airspace.
As regional tensions continue to simmer, aviation authorities in Pakistan are keeping a close watch on the situation, with further operational decisions expected to depend on the evolving security climate.
