KARACHI: Pakistan’s aviation sector faced another day of severe disruption on Saturday as nearly a hundred flights bound for Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled, underscoring the deepening impact of regional instability on global air travel and energy markets.
The turmoil stems from the February 28 US-Israeli attack on Iran, which triggered widespread chaos across the Middle East. The strike, described by analysts as one of the most consequential escalations in recent years, disrupted not only regional security but also global aviation schedules and energy supplies. Oil markets have been rattled, with prices surging amid fears of prolonged instability, while airlines worldwide scramble to reroute or suspend services to affected destinations.
Officials confirmed that some 97 flights from Pakistan to various Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled today, while only 58 flights were expected to operate. The cancellations affected major hubs including Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot, Multan, and Faisalabad.
From Lahore, 22 flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, and Sharjah were cancelled, with just seven departures likely to proceed. In Islamabad, 26 flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Sharjah were grounded, while 16 remain operational.
Similarly, Peshawar saw 10 cancellations to Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, with six flights still scheduled, and five flights from Sialkot to Doha, Dubai, and Sharjah were cancelled, while four continue to operate.
Not that just, Multan reported six cancellations to Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam, and Faisalabad lost three flights to Dubai and Sharjah, though four flights from these cities are still running.
Overall, officials said that in the past eight days, around 1,300 flights between Pakistan and the Middle East have been cancelled, while 27,600 flights across the region were grounded in the past week due to the ongoing conflict. In a rare sign of relief, Doha Airport announced a partial restoration of flight operations today after a week-long suspension.
