Pakistan’s airspace appears to be caught under a bad spell as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), on Saturday, announced yet another suspension of all transit flights till 3 pm on March 11.
In a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) released by the authority, air space in the country was closed to all overflying flights from east to west and west to east. Meanwhile, some transit flights between the north and south of Pakistan’s airspace have been permitted to fly over some routes. Airports in Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur, which were set to reopen today, would also remain closed for further 24 hours.
The notification added that only specific airspace could be used to enter and exit from Pakistan
However, airports across Pakistan, which were opened after a brief hiatus, earlier this week, would continue to operate as per schedule till 5 am on March 15.
Flight operations at airports in Karachi, Multan, Chitral, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad would also run as per schedule till 5 am on March 15.
While flight operations at most airports had resumed over the week, the CAA had delayed the reopening of its complete airspace.
An earlier notification on Friday announced that transit flights would be allowed to resume operations from 3 pm on Saturday. The CAA NOTAM had announced the opening of Pakistan’s airspace in a phased process on March 1. It furthered that the Lahore airport would remain partially functioning till March 8.
Pakistan had closed its airspace in late February in the wake of escalating tensions with neighbouring India. Its airforce downed two Indian warplanes as they intruded in the country’s airspace. All domestic and international flights were suspended at the airports of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Multan.
The two neighbours became embroiled in bitter exchanges as New Delhi continue its war-mongering after Pulwama attack. It is now said that the war-hysteria aimed to use Pakistan’s angle to achieve political gains in the upcoming general polls in India.
As over 400 flights between Asia and Europe were disrupted during the four days of flight suspension, more than 25,000 passengers got stranded worldwide. Still, airlines were later able to reroute many flights that normally passed over Pakistan through China.
Flights from Singapore to Europe that usually crossed Pakistan and Afghanistan, for instance, were rerouted westwards over Oman. Officials claimed that this detour added more than an hour’s flying time along with boosting fuel costs.
Iran also saw a heavier usage of its airspace.
Published in Daily Times, March 10th 2019.
