Pakistan partially restores its airspace

KARACHI: Pakistan has partially restored its airspace, starting with Jinnah International Airport of Karachi.

Flight WY324 KHI MCT and EK601 KHI DXB were departed from Jinnah International Airport of Karachi.

North East and North Western airspace will remain closed until further notice.

This was announced hours after numerous flights were cancelled or diverted Wednesday after Pakistan closed its airspace and India shut airports, as soaring tensions between two neighbours stoked fears of a full-blown conflict.

The closures came after Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace.

The air traffic disruption was affecting routes passing through the region that are popular with Western holidaymakers, with an industry body saying that a huge number of flights to Southeast Asia may have to be diverted.

Pakistan International Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, warned that "flights may be affected due to closure of Pakistan commercial air space".