KARACHI – Following the sudden closure of regional airspace due to the escalating situation in the Middle East, three foreign aircraft have remained grounded at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, since February 28.
Key Details of the Grounding
On February 28, a total of 27 international flights passing through Pakistani airspace were forced to land at Karachi Airport due to the abrupt restrictions. These landings included technical stops, diversions, and re-routing. According to sources within the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), over 15 aircraft were diverted to Karachi on the first day of the crisis. While 12 aircraft have since departed, three planes from Qatar Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia are still parked at the airport. All passengers from these flights have been transitioned to local hotels, and airlines are currently making alternative arrangements to transport them to their final destinations.
Operational Response
A PAA spokesperson stated that Operational Crisis Control (OCC) cells are active across all airports, following directives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Notably, over 67 Thai Airways passengers were recently repatriated via chartered flights. The spokesperson also highlighted that the unexpected influx of international aircraft has generated thousands of dollars in revenue for the PAA through parking and landing fees.
Pakistani Aircraft Stranded Abroad
The crisis has also impacted domestic carriers. Two Pakistani aircraft, one PIA Airbus A320 and one Air Sial aircraft, have been stranded in the UAE for the past three days. PIA and private airline aircraft were unable to depart for Pakistan due to the airspace closure, and most of their passengers have been moved to hotels by the respective airlines. The ongoing regional instability continues to disrupt thousands of flights globally, leaving hundreds of thousands of travelers in limbo as multiple countries maintain strict airspace restrictions.
