Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport will be suspended for two hours on March 16, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced. The temporary halt will take place from 08:30am to 10:30am PKT due to operational reasons, and passengers are advised to check with airlines for updates. The move affects arrivals and departures and requires aircraft to carry sufficient holding fuel to manage delays.
The PAA issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) specifying that certain air traffic service (ATS) route segments within the Lahore flight information region (FIR) will be unavailable from ground level to flight level 210. The notice urged airlines and pilots to plan accordingly to prevent disruptions.
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This follows a similar Notam issued on March 12, which restricted flights on the same routes for three hours and 15 minutes. Media reports linked the previous closure to a flypast rehearsal for Pakistan Day celebrations scheduled on March 23.
Despite the suspension, the PAA has emphasized that Pakistan’s airspace remains fully open, safe, and available for all civil aviation traffic. Officials say the temporary halt is routine and part of operational requirements, not related to regional tensions or security concerns.
Read more: Flight operations resume at Islamabad airport after flypast exercise
Passengers flying to or from Islamabad are advised to monitor airline communications closely and allow extra travel time during the suspension. Airlines are expected to adjust schedules and coordinate with airport authorities to minimise inconvenience.