Check the current status of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight operations here, as many Pakistanis are preparing to travel home for Eid ul Fitr 2026.
Questions are rising about the status of national and international flights, as some airways are cancelling flights due to the current Pakistan Afghanistan, Iran US Israel tensions.
Current PIA status
The Pakistan Airports Authority said on Tuesday that the country’s airspace is fully open and safe. It said all civil aviation traffic is operating normally.
The statement came after the authority issued a notice to airmen about certain air routes.
The notice said selected air traffic service route segments in the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions will not be available from March 3 to March 31.
These routes will remain closed daily from 9 am to 3 pm for operational reasons.
In a follow up statement, the authority said this is a routine advisory. It said the temporary closure only affects specific route segments. It does not affect the overall airspace.
However, international flights have been suspended.
⚠️⛔️⚠️
— PIA (@Official_PIA) February 28, 2026
In view of the developing situation in the Middle East, #PIA is suspending its flights to #UAE 🇦🇪, #Bahrain🇧🇭, #Kuwait🇰🇼 and #Doha 🇶🇦 till tomorrow evening, or till opening of respective airspaces.
Flights to #KSA 🇸🇦 have been rerouted, avoiding conflict hit zones.…
PIA commercial flights status
The authority also added that there are no restrictions on commercial flights. Arrivals, departures and overflights are continuing as usual.
Air traffic controllers and airport teams are working normally. Alternative routes are available and are being used where needed.
However, flight activity between the Middle East and Islamabad International Airport remained limited on Monday. Only one commercial flight from the Middle East landed in Islamabad.
An Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi arrived at 7:30 pm. Flights from Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait and Muscat were cancelled as no departures took place from these cities.
Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines said its flights to and from Saudi Arabia are operating as normal.
With Eid approaching, passengers are advised to stay in contact with their airlines for updates on schedules and possible changes.
When will flights for Hajj 2026 begin?
Reports say the first flights will depart from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Multan on April 18.
Pilgrims will be transported to Madinah in phases. After staying there, they will travel to Makkah.
Under the government Hajj scheme, 468 flights will be operated to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
A total of 119,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the official scheme this year. The Ministry of Religious Affairs said all arrangements have been finalised.
