Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has temporarily suspended all flights using Iranian airspace following recent missile attacks by Iran on Israel, according to official directives issued on Tuesday.
The airline’s spokesperson confirmed that flight schedules are being revised, and Iranian airspace will not be used until the situation becomes more stable.
PIA typically utilizes two main air corridors over Iran: the Northern Corridor for routes to Canada and Turkey, and the Southern Corridor for destinations in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
In response to the ongoing conflict, both Israel and Jordan have closed their airspace to civilian flights. Several international airlines have also suspended operations to Israel and Lebanon due to the escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued updated directives for Air Traffic Control (ATC) to strengthen surveillance of Pakistan’s airspace. ATC has been instructed to closely monitor flights entering Pakistan from Iranian and Afghan airspaces.
The CAA has emphasized heightened scrutiny of any aircraft approaching Pakistani airspace as a precautionary measure, in light of the current geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel. This step is part of Pakistan’s efforts to ensure the safety and security of its airspace during the ongoing regional conflict.