Closure of airports: 400 flights affected, 130 cancelled

KARACHI: As many as 400 flights were affected on Thursday due to the closure of the country’s four major airports for security reasons.

Out of these 400 flights, 24 were made to land at alternative airports. 130 flights were cancelled, while a large number of flights were in an uncertain situation.

According to aviation sources, 14 flights from Lahore Airport, six from Islamabad, two from Sialkot, one each from Karachi and Peshawar, were made to land at alternative airports due to the closure of flight operations. Of these, three were diverted to Multan, three to Quetta, three to Muscat, most to Karachi and others to their departure airports. According to the flight schedule, out of 125 flights from Karachi Airport, 19 operated, one cargo flight was sent back to Doha, and 43 were cancelled, while 62 flights could not be operated. Out of 90 flights from Lahore, 10 operated, 13 were diverted to different airports, 37 flights were cancelled, and 34 could not be operated. Out of 113 flights from Islamabad, six were made to land at other airports, 26 operated, 36 were cancelled, while 45 flights could not be operated. Out of 19 flights from Sialkot Airport, only three operated, and two were transferred to alternative airports. Eight flights were cancelled, and five could not be operated. Out of 19 flights from Peshawar Airport, four were cancelled, six operated, one diverted, and others were in an uncertain situation.

Out of nine flights from Faisalabad, three flights were cancelled, others operated as per schedule. Out of 20 flights from Multan Airport, 11 operated, five were cancelled, while others were in an uncertain situation. Due to the diversion of flights, several thousand passengers faced inconvenience.