Jinnah International Airport in Karachi experienced an unprecedented level of activity with diverted Gulf flights on Saturday amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
A significant number of foreign airline flights were redirected to the city, bringing back memories of the Gulf Crisis in 1990.
According to aviation sources, a significant number of foreign carriers, including Gulf flights were rerouted to Karachi airport due to regional airspace restrictions and security concerns that necessitated precautionary diversions.
Karachi airport offers flight operations to Middle East once again
Several aircraft were temporarily stationed throughout the day, while many others arrived for refueling.
This situation mirrored that of 1990, when, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, numerous passenger aircraft landed in Karachi under comparable conditions.
During that period, both the old airport terminal and the newly built Jinnah Terminal were utilised to accommodate the diverted flights.
Karachi airport alone recorded 13 diversions, including technical refueling stops. Additionally, four diversions were noted in the Lahore Flight Information Region, while two return diversions were managed at Islamabad Airport.
Three flights returned to their original or alternate destinations, while five rerouted flights passed through Karachi’s airspace without landing and were given alternate routes.
The sudden surge in traffic posed operational challenges due to limited parking availability, leading airport authorities to warn airlines about potential delays.
Airlines cancelled on Gulf routes
Officials confirmed that the situation was being closely monitored and managed. In the meantime, several airlines announced cancellations on Gulf routes.
AirSial cancelled 19 flights across various Gulf sectors, while PIA cancelled four flights from Islamabad to Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai.
Saudi Airlines suspended its flights bound for Saudi Arabia from Peshawar.
Aviation authorities stated that Pakistani air traffic controllers and operational teams effectively managed the increase in traffic during the emergency.
Passengers were advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the most current updates.
Read more: Only passengers with valid documents allowed at Jinnah International Airport
