Pakistan Airports Authority rejects reports of airspace ‘partial closure’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday dismissed media reports claiming a partial closure of the country’s airspace, terming the interpretation “incorrect and misleading.”

The authority clarified that a recently issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was a routine operational advisory.

The NOTAM announces the temporary unavailability of specific Air Traffic Services (ATS) route segments within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions during daily time windows from 0400 to 1000 UTC (0900 to 1500 Pakistan Standard Time) from March 3 to 31.

The PAA said the route segments are closed from ground level to unlimited altitude for standard operational reasons, stressing that the country’s airspace remains fully open and safe for all civil aviation traffic, including commercial flights.

“No restrictions have been imposed on commercial operations, arrivals, departures, or overflights across Pakistan,” the authority said, adding that alternative routing options are available and routinely used where required.

Air traffic services across the country are continuing without disruption, and controllers and airport teams are managing flight operations normally, the statement added.

The authority urged media outlets and social media users to rely on official statements to avoid unnecessary concern among passengers and the public.