Several foreign airlines have started using Pakistan’s airspace for various international routes as airspace closures continue due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Major carriers, including Emirates, are now flying over northern Pakistan on routes to North America, Egypt, and other destinations.
Their flight paths pass through western Pakistan, then proceed over Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Turkey before heading west
The airspaces of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel remain closed amid the ongoing conflict, forcing airlines to adjust their routes.
Earlier, major airlines affected include El Al, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air India, Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, subsidiary AJet, Aegean Airlines, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and flydubai.
These carriers have suspended flights to and from Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan or rerouted flights over safer airspace such as Central Asia or Saudi Arabia.
Iraq’s closure affects one of the busiest air corridors between Europe and the Gulf. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports have also reported delays and cancellations linked to these restrictions.
The situation remains fluid, with aviation safety organisations urging caution in the region.
The airspace over Israel and Iran remained closed on Sunday due to intensifying military tensions between the two nations. However, Jordan has reopened its airspace after a temporary closure.
Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, its main international terminal, remained shut with all flights suspended until further notice, according to the Israel Airports Authority. The country's airspace has been closed since it launched attacks on Iran on Friday.
Similarly, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation confirmed its airspace closure would remain in effect until at least 3pm, local time on Sunday, advising passengers to avoid airport visits, an Iranian publication reported.
Meanwhile, Jordan, which lies geographically between the two adversaries, has reopened its airspace.The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission said the decision followed a comprehensive reassessment of regional security and airspace risks.
On the other hand, Iran activated its air defences in several regions on Saturday and Israel told its citizens to take shelter ahead of a fresh barrage of missiles, as the arch-foes exchanged massive strikes in their fiercest confrontation in history.
The fresh attacks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit "every target of the regime", and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned further strikes would draw "a more severe and powerful response".
Amid growing global calls for de-escalation, a new round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran scheduled for Sunday was cancelled, with Iran saying it could not negotiate while under attack from Israel.
Israel's operation, which began early Friday, targeted Iran's air defences and hit key nuclear and military sites, killing dozens of people, including top army commanders and atomic scientists, according to Tehran.