22 Mar 2019 | 12:50 PM UTC

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 25 /update 21

Pakistani authorities extend airspace closure to transit flights until March 25; ongoing flight disruptions to be expected over the coming days

TIMEFRAME expected from 3/22/2019, 12:00 AM until 3/25/2019, 11:59 PM (Asia/Karachi). COUNTRY/REGION Pakistan

Read all related news alert(s):

28 Aug 05:19 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Aviation authority closes Karachi airspace August 28-31 /update 36

08 Aug 07:13 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace partially closed to Indian carriers August 8 /update 35

07 Aug 10:18 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Pakistan to close airspace for Indian flights August 7 /update 34

16 Jul 06:29 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace reopens to all civilian flights July 16 /update 33

18 Jun 10:46 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace restrictions along eastern border extended until June 28 /update 32

29 May 12:26 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace restrictions extended to June 14 /update 31

20 May 07:21 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace restrictions extended through May 30 /update 30

17 May 03:16 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace restrictions extended through May 30 /update 29

25 Apr 12:41 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until May 15 /update 28

11 Apr 01:07 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until April 24 /update 27

03 Apr 08:53 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until April 10 /update 26

28 Mar 02:38 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 29 /update 25

27 Mar 04:59 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 28 /update 24

26 Mar 12:53 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 27 /update 23

25 Mar 10:32 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 26 /update 22

21 Mar 11:24 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 22 /update 20

20 Mar 12:42 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 21 /update 19

19 Mar 09:51 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 20 /update 18

18 Mar 03:13 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 19 /update 17

15 Mar 01:21 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 18 /update 16

14 Mar 01:42 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 15 /update 15

13 Mar 01:43 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 14 /update 14

12 Mar 01:14 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 13 /update 13

11 Mar 02:37 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 12 /update 12

09 Mar 03:53 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 11 /update 11

08 Mar 10:49 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Pakistani airspace remains closed to transit flights until March 9 /update 10

07 Mar 06:35 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Pakistani airspace to reopen March 8 /update 9

05 Mar 04:05 PM UTC —

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

04 Mar 01:07 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Authorities reopen airspace March 4 /update 7

04 Mar 06:44 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Flights canceled at Lahore Airport (LHE) March 4 /update 6

03 Mar 06:22 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Authorities reopen Lahore airspace March 3 /update 5

01 Mar 10:29 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace over Pakistan partially closed until at least March 4 /update 4

28 Feb 12:54 PM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace over Pakistan closed until at least March 1 /update 3

27 Feb 11:44 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace over Pakistan closed until at least February 28 /update 2

27 Feb 09:35 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Airspace over Pakistan closed until further notice February 27 /update 1

27 Feb 07:48 AM UTC —

Pakistan: Flight operations suspended at major airports February 27

Event

On Friday, March 22, Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) extended the general closure of the country's airspace to international transit flights until at least 15:00 (local time) on Monday, March 25. According to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) published by CAA on Friday, flight operations are active, subject to restrictions, at Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Peshawar International Airport (PEW), Quetta International Airport (UET), and Islamabad International Airport (ISB). Although flight operations in Pakistan are gradually resuming at airports across the country, disruptions - including cancelations, delays, overbookings, 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 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 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 state) on February 14, killing at least 40 Indian paramilitary officers. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers. The Indian airstrikes initiated a series of retaliatory airstrikes and artillery fire near the Line of Control (LoC).

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

Advice

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

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