Karachi, June 24, 2025: Pakistan has resumed commercial flight operations to the Gulf region after the reopening of airspace over Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, aviation officials confirmed Tuesday.
The development follows a temporary suspension of services by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) late Monday night, triggered by heightened regional tensions stemming from recent military hostilities in the Middle East.
While flight operations have now partially resumed, significant delays persist. According to aviation sources, outbound and inbound flights are facing delays ranging from five to thirteen hours. PIA has restored its Gulf-bound schedule, but air traffic disruptions continue to impact international carriers operating from major Pakistani airports.
A total of 32 flights were cancelled across Pakistan, including 14 operated by Qatar Airways, from cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Sialkot. Additionally, 55 flights have experienced delays across the country’s major airports.
Among the disruptions:
- Karachi: Eight outbound flights to Jeddah, Doha, and Istanbul were cancelled; two Dubai-bound flights operated by foreign airlines were also scrapped.
- Lahore: Five Gulf-bound flights to Sharjah, Muscat, and Riyadh were cancelled.
- Islamabad & Peshawar: Multiple Qatar Airways flights were cancelled, including two from Lahore, four from Islamabad, and four from Peshawar and Sialkot.
- Peshawar & Abu Dhabi: Five inbound flights from Sharjah and Dubai were also cancelled.
Air traffic began stabilizing after Bahrain and Kuwait reopened their airspace, with Qatar following suit later in the night, enabling the gradual resumption of services.
Despite the partial recovery, severe delays continue:
- PIA flight PK 747 from Lahore to Madinah is delayed by 13 hours.
- PK 247 from Lahore to Dammam is running 6.5 hours late.
- Qatar Airways flight QR 621 from Doha to Karachi and Lahore is delayed by 10 hours.
- PIA flight PK 233 from Islamabad to Dubai is facing a 15-hour delay.
- Two incoming flights from Bahrain to Islamabad are delayed by 4 hours.
Airlines and aviation authorities are advising passengers to check the latest flight schedules and stay in contact with their carriers due to the fluid security situation in the Gulf region.
