Pakistan resumes flights after Gulf airspace reopens
Pakistan has resumed flight operations to the Gulf region after the reopening of airspace over Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, aviation sources confirmed on Tuesday.
This development came after Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran through talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday while his team, including Vice President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran, a senior White House official said.
The national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), had temporarily suspended flights late on Monday due to rising tensions in the region.
Read: Trump 'Unhappy' with Israel and Iran over ceasefire violations
Despite the restoration of services, delays ranging from five to thirteen hours are still expected for Gulf-bound flights. A total of 32 flights, including 14 Qatar Airways services, have been cancelled, according to updated flight schedules.
Additionally, 55 flights, both arrivals and departures, have experienced delays at airports in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and other cities.
Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not close their airspace, several flights were diverted to alternative airports due to the escalating situation.
Bahrain and Kuwait had resumed operations earlier, with Qatar following suit later in the night, allowing for a partial restoration of services.
Earlier, PIA announced the suspension of its flight operations from Pakistan to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai due to the ongoing security situation in the Gulf region.
A PIA spokesperson stated that the decision to limit flight operations is a precautionary measure in response to the heightened tensions in the region.
The suspension affects all scheduled flights between Pakistan and these Gulf destinations.
PIA has assured that operations will resume once the situation in the region normalises. Passengers who were booked on these flights are advised to contact the PIA Call Centre for up-to-date information regarding their travel.
In addition, the PIA reservation department has started rebooking affected passengers on alternate flights.
The airline has apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation, emphasising that the safety of its passengers is of the utmost priority.
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