Karachi: Pakistan’s aviation sector has suffered losses worth $72 million because of airspace disruptions in the Middle East due to the ongoing war on Iran so far, a Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) spokesperson said on Thursday.
The US and Israel’s airstrikes against Iran last month disrupted key air corridors worldwide, with several airlines rerouting their flights or canceling them altogether. Much of the Middle East region’s airspace remained closed as the conflict continued for the first few days, with only a limited number of flights departing from a handful of regional gateways in the Middle East.
Hundreds of flights between Pakistan and Middle East destinations such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Sharjah and other destinations were canceled as the Middle East war broke out earlier this month.
Five domestic airlines operate in Pakistan, namely the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue, Serene Air, Air Sial, and Fly Jinnah. In addition, several major international carriers operate to and from the country, including the Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines.
“These disruptions have led to substantial challenges for airlines, with the broader aviation sector reportedly facing estimated revenue losses of around Rs20 billion ($72 million) in the early phase of these disruptions,” PAA spokesperson Saifullah Khan told Arab News.
