LAHORE:
Air operations in Pakistan have been severely restricted after Indian drones attacks, resulting in cancellation and delays of numerous national and international flights, which causes a significant inconvenience for passengers, according to airport sources.
Approximately 450 flights to and from Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and other important airports have been affected. These include flights for the pilgrims of the Hajj, as well as those of Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur, Madina, Riad, Turkey, Canada, Europe, Abu Dhabi and other destinations.
Until now, around 150 flights have been canceled.
The sudden and repeated closure and the reopening of the airspace about Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad, Finen and Karachi by the Airport Authority of Pakistan (PAA) have created serious challenges for thousands of passengers, with the national and international airlines forced to reprogram to reprogram the dozen flights.
Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport, which manages more than 50 daily flights, has seen 80% of its operations affected. The PAA, the PIA and other airlines have urged passengers to verify their flight schedules before heading to the airport.
Repeated airspace closures have been particularly problematic for Hajj pilgrims, which are often waiting for hours in Ihram at the airport, insecure when or if they leave.
The situation has also impacted airport staff, including those belonging to FIA, PAA, Customs and others, who have been trapped in a cycle of sudden service calls, are at home after suspensions only to be removed when operations are resulted unexpectedly.
From now on, there is no clarity about how long this interruption will continue.
In a statement issued on Friday, the spokesman of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said that between May 7 and 9, the Hajj flight schedules were affected.
During this three -day period, 4 Hajj flights were canceled and another 9 were delayed. Two flights were canceled each of the Saudi airlines of Islamabad and Lahore. Three flights from Lahore, two from Islamabad and Quetta, and one of fine and karachi experienced delays. As a result of temporary flight suspensions, the schedules of 3,080 pilgrims were interrupted. Most of the affected flights left with pilgrims after short delays.
Due to the cancellations, 345 pilgrims that were left behind have now been flown today from Islamabad on a special PIA flight. Another 540 pilgrims will be transported through special flights from Islamabad and Lahore.
Meanwhile, the flight consultation website at Lahore airport was reduced on Friday. As a result, passengers faced difficulties to control flight schedules. (With contributions from our correspondents in Islamabad)
