Latest news with #PK-750
Express Tribune
11-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Hajj operations resumed after a hiatus
Listen to article The PIA on Saturday night resumed its Hajj operation, which was greatly affected due intermittent closures of airspace since May 7 after the start of a brief war between Pakistan and India. After announcement of a ceasefire on Saturday evening, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued a notice to airmen (Notam) announcing that the country's airspace had been fully restored for all types of flights According to the PAA spokesperson, all airports across the country were available for normal flight operations. "Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight schedules," he added. Later, the PIA spokesperson also confirmed the restoration of flight operations. He said PIA flight PK-750 from Paris to Islamabad, which had earlier landed in Quetta, was scheduled to depart for Islamabad at 9 pm on Saturday. Other PIA operations were also resumed from 10pm. "Passengers who had returned home or were accommodated in hotels are being contacted and called back to the airport. Aircraft and equipment that were moved to safe locations as a precaution are also being returned to the operational area," the statement said. The PIA spokesperson apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the airspace closure and flight disruptions, stating that the precaution was necessary in light of the situation. After the reopening of airspace, Hajj flights were also resumed on Saturday night. A total of 10 Hajj flights were suspended due to Pakistan-India tensions, including three flights on Saturday. As a result, 2,290 pilgrims were unable to depart for the holy land. Of these, 7 flights belonged to Saudi Airlines and 3 to PIA. Hajj operations from Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Karachi have now resumed. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has already sent 1,277 of the affected pilgrims via special PIA flights. The remaining 1,013 pilgrims will be sent in the coming days, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement. He said all Hajj flights will now proceed to Saudi Arabia as per schedule. So far, 19,669 Pakistani pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia. The spokesperson urged pilgrims to stay in contact with their respective Haji Camps for information on Hajj flight schedules. As of Friday, approximately 450 flights to and from Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and other major airports had been affected. These included flights for Hajj pilgrims as well as those to and from Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur, Madina, Riyadh, Turkey, Canada, Europe, Abu Dhabi, and other destinations. The sudden and repeated closure and reopening of airspace over Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad, Multan, and Karachi by the PAA created serious challenges for thousands of passengers, with both domestic and international airlines forced to reschedule dozens of flights. Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport, which handles over 50 flights daily, saw 80% of its operations affected. The repeated airspace closures had been particularly troublesome for Hajj pilgrims, who had to wait for hours in ihram at the airport.
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Country fully opens air space
KARACHI: Pakistan's airspace has been completely restored for all types of flights. According to the latest announcement made by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), Pakistan's airspace has been completely restored for all types of flights. Following the said development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has begun resuming its flight operations. PAA spokesperson confirmed that all airports across the country are now available for regular flight operations. 'Pakistan's airspace has been fully reopened for all types of flights,' the PAA spokesperson said. 'All airports throughout the country are now operational for normal flight schedules.' Pakistan reopens airspace for all flights after temporary closure: PAA Meanwhile, PIA spokesperson also announced that the airline's operations are progressively returning to normal. PIA flight PK-750 from Paris to Islamabad, which had been diverted to Quetta early this morning, will depart for Islamabad at 9 PM Saturday. All other PIA operations will resume from 10 PM (Saturday), with all delayed or suspended flights becoming operational again. 'We are in the process of contacting passengers who had returned to their homes or were accommodated in hotels, asking them to return to the airport.' Aircraft and other equipment that had been moved to secure locations as precautionary measures are now being returned to operational areas, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
