CAA extends flight operations suspension at Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur airports

KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in a fresh NOTAM on Saturday extended suspension of flight operations at Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur airports for further 24 hours, ARY News reported.

These airports will remain partially restored till March 15, the CAA announcement said.

The CAA in a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) on March 1st, announced opening of Pakistan’s airspace in a phased process.

Pakistan’s airspace was closed and flight operations were suspended in the end February, due to escalation of tensions with neighboring India.

Two warplanes of India were downed by Pakistan Air Force after their intrusion in the country’s airspace.

All domestic and international flights were suspended at the airports of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Multan.

Tensions escalated after Indian government officials’ war mongering statements in the wake of Pulwama bombing incident. The statements meant to create an anti-Pakistan hysteria in country to achieve political gains against the opponents in the upcoming general election in India.

The CAA NOTAM had said the Lahore airport would remain partially functioning till March 8.

During the four days of flights suspension more than four hundred flights and 25,000 passengers were affected.

The flight operations had been suspended at Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and other major airports of the country, after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) jets as they violated the Line of Control on February 27.