Pakistan: Authorities delay reopening of airspace nationwide until March 6 /update 8

Event

Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has extended the general closure of Pakistani airspace until Wednesday, March 6. The CAA had previously announced it would reopen the country's airspace on Monday, March 4, but has delayed doing so. As of Tuesday, March 5, flights are operational at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Peshawar International Airport (PEW), Quetta International Airport (UET), Islamabad International Airport (ISB), Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE), and Faisalabad International Airport (LYP), but are subject to routing restrictions. Operations at all other airports are restricted. 

Disruptions at Pakistani airports, including cancelations, delays, overbooking, and crowded conditions, are expected to persist over the coming days. An extension of the airspace closure is possible should tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.

Context

The CAA closed Pakistani airspace on Wednesday, February 27, after a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet was shot down above Pakistan-controlled Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Tensions significantly escalated between India and Pakistan after the IAF conducted airstrikes on a a suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp near Balakot (Pakistan) on February 26. JeM recently claimed responsibility for a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack in Pulwama district (Jammu and Kashmir) on February 14, killing at least 40 Indian paramilitary officers. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers. The airstrike initiated a series of retaliatory airstrikes and artillery fire near the Line of Control (LoC).

India and Pakistan both claim sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir, which has been the focus of periodic violent conflict since 1947.

Advice

Individuals traveling to or from Pakistan are advised to monitor the situation, maintain flexible itineraries, and contact their airlines for more information.