UAE airlines resume flights as Pakistan fully reopens its airspace
According to the UAE aviation authorities, major airports in the Emirates have restarted operations for Pakistan-bound flights.
The first flight to Islamabad is set to depart on Monday (May 12), while services to Peshawar's Bacha Khan Airport will begin on Tuesday (May 13).
Earlier, Pakistan has fully reopened its airspace for all types of flights as tensions eased with India following a ceasefire agreement.
The two neighbouring nations had closed their airspaces multiple times since Wednesday, when India launched missiles into Pakistan, triggering a series of hostilities.
The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) has announced that the airspace has been fully restored for all types of flights and issued a fresh notice to airmen (NOTAM).
"All airports in the country are available for normal flight operations," a spokesman for PAA said. He requested passengers to contact the airline for the latest flight schedule.
However, the normalisation of flight operations is expected to take time as passenger aircraft and other equipment were shifted to safe locations as a precaution during escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. Officials said the aircraft are being brought back to the operational area for routine operations.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has also resumed flight operations following the reopening of the airspace.
The national carrier's flight PK750, coming from Paris to Islamabad, which was diverted and landed in Quetta early on Saturday, later returned to its original destination, said PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan.
Other operations of PIA would also resume from 10pm and all grounded or delayed flights would become operational, he said.
Passengers who had returned to their homes or hotels are being contacted to return to the airport. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the air closures and affected flight operations, but caution was necessary given the circumstances," the statement added. The disruption of flight operations for days stranded hundreds of travellers in Pakistan and abroad.
Meanwhile, efforts to sustain the ongoing Hajj operations are being made by various airlines, which are working to ensure continuity despite operational challenges at major airports.
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