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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday dismissed media reports claiming a partial closure of the country&rsquo;s airspace, terming the interpretation &ldquo;incorrect and misleading.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;s airspace remains fully open and safe for all civil aviation traffic, including commercial flights. &ldquo;No restrictions have been imposed on commercial operations, arrivals, departures, or overflights across Pakistan,&rdquo; 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.

An Israeli Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft flies over Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026. (Photo: AFP/File)

Security

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

Pakistan Airports Authority rejects reports of airspace ‘partial closure’

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Dhaka&rsquo;s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after multiple airlines halted or disrupted flights to the Middle East amid a sudden regional airspace squeeze, Bangladeshi media reported on Sunday.&nbsp; Services from Bangladesh to several Middle Eastern destinations were suspended from Saturday afternoon after some countries temporarily closed their airspace following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran&rsquo;s retaliation.&nbsp;As news of the suspensions spread, crowds, dominated by migrant workers, alongside business travellers, Umrah pilgrims, and transit passengers, began gathering at the airport, with many of them left waiting for hours with limited clarity on next steps.&nbsp;Airport authorities said Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, and Qatar were among the locations affected by temporary airspace restrictions, leading to cancellations, delays, and rescheduling. They instructed airlines to notify passengers in advance via SMS, email, and call centers, ensure staff presence at the terminal, and provide coordinated updates to reduce hardship.&nbsp; Passengers were advised to contact airlines or travel agents to confirm flight status before coming to the airport, with Bangladesh&rsquo;s civil aviation regulator issuing similar guidance, the report said.&nbsp;Bangladeshi carriers Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines suspended Middle East-bound flights, with airline officials urging passengers not to travel to the airport without prior confirmation and providing hotline details for updates, Bangladeshi media added.&nbsp;The disruption is expected to ripple beyond Gulf routes: airport officials noted that some long-haul flights from Dhaka, such as to London and Toronto, often pass through Middle Eastern airspace and may need rerouting, potentially increasing flight time and operating costs.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Bangladesh missions in several Gulf states issued safety advisories to expatriates, while the expatriates&rsquo; welfare ministry said stranded travellers would be assisted with overnight accommodation at the airport.

Bangladesh

Chaos at Dhaka’s airport followed after multiple airlines halted or disrupted Middle East flights due to regional airspace restrictions, leaving passengers stranded and prompting advisories, hotline updates, and rerouting concerns

Articles tagged with "Airspace Closure"

Pakistan Airports Authority rejects reports of airspace ‘partial closure’

Middle East airspace disruption strands passengers at Dhaka airport