LAHORE (Kashmir English): In the latest update about flight operations in the country, flight operations have been suspended at Lahore and Sialkot airports.
According to the airport authority, flights at Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot airports in Pakistan have been temporarily suspended. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, Lahore and Sialkot airports will not be available until 12:00 noon local time on May 8th.
Previously, Flight operations at Karachi airport were briefly suspended too, the Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed on Thursday.
The authority also stated that services at Lahore and Sialkot airports had resumed following a short disruption. According to officials, some flights experienced delays or diversions due to operational adjustments.
This continuation has been suspended again.
Disruption in global flights
Several major Asian airlines announced flight cancellations and re-routings on Wednesday as the India-Pakistan airspace conflict escalated, triggering severe disruption in global flight schedules.
The changes come in response to intensified action between India and Pakistan, after Indian air strikes on Pakistani territory and claims by Pakistan that it had shot down five Indian fighter jets.
This marks the worst military exchange between the nuclear-armed rivals in more than 20 years. As the situation unfolded, more than 52 flights to and from Pakistan were cancelled, according to tracking service FlightRadar24.
At one point, 57 global flights were operating within Pakistani airspace when India launched its attacks without any consideration of civilian lives, according to a statement issued by DG ISPR. Pakistan has opened its airspace in Lahore and Karachi after lives returned to normal, thanks to the efforts made by Pakistani forces.
Domestic flights in both countries were also hit, with India closing several airports. Consequently, major Indian airlines including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air were forced to cancel services. Shares in IndiGo dropped by 1.8 per cent.
The India-Pakistan airspace conflict also led to longer travel times for European-bound flights from India. One Lufthansa flight from Delhi to Frankfurt took a significantly longer detour over the Arabian Sea.
Members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines voiced worries about escalating operational difficulties due to growing costs and GPS spoofing safety issues that affect flight navigation safety in conflict zones.
