Pakistan’s aviation sector faced significant disruption on Sunday as authorities cancelled at least 83 domestic and international flights across major airports in the country. Meanwhile, only 430 flights operated during the past 24 hours, reflecting ongoing operational challenges affecting nationwide air travel schedules. Consequently, passengers experienced delays and uncertainty at multiple airports including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other key cities.
Officials reported that flight cancellations occurred due to administrative and operational issues, which affected both domestic routes and international travel services. In addition, airports in Multan, Quetta, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sukkur and Gilgit also experienced disruptions in regular flight operations. As a result, thousands of passengers faced inconvenience while airlines struggled to manage revised schedules.
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According to flight operation data, Karachi handled 123 flights, Islamabad managed 134, and Lahore recorded 100 flights during the reporting period. Furthermore, Multan operated 23 flights, Peshawar 16, Sialkot 20, Faisalabad four, and Quetta 10 flights across the day’s schedule. However, cancellation rates remained high, reflecting pressure on the aviation system.
Authorities confirmed that 20 flights were cancelled in Karachi, 19 in Islamabad, 15 in Lahore and 11 in Multan, showing widespread operational disruption across major hubs. Additionally, five flights each from Quetta and Faisalabad were cancelled, while Peshawar recorded four cancellations and Sukkur and Gilgit reported two cancellations each. Consequently, airlines were forced to adjust operations throughout the day.
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Meanwhile, aviation officials stated that more than 20 flights to and from Jeddah were cancelled due to low passenger demand on the busy Saudi route. This route is commonly used by Pakistani expatriates and Umrah pilgrims, making the cancellations particularly impactful for religious and family travel. Furthermore, airlines indicated that demand fluctuations contributed to scheduling challenges.
Separately, authorities in Punjab imposed Section 144 around airports and Pakistan Air Force airbases for 30 days to enhance aviation safety and security. The restrictions banned activities such as pigeon flying, laser lights, and dumping of animal waste within a 13-kilometre radius of sensitive aviation zones. Consequently, passengers have been advised to check flight updates before traveling to airports.