Pakistan’s government announced a 24-hour airspace shutdown, effective from 10:50 a.m. to midnight, in response to escalating tensions with India following India’s missile strikes on April 25.
The closure, enforced by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, disrupted 57 commercial flights, including those from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, and delayed travel for 3,080 Hajj pilgrims. The measure, centered over Lahore and Punjab, was part of Pakistan’s retaliatory actions after India’s “Operation Sindoor,” which targeted nine alleged terror sites, killing 31 civilians, per Pakistani officials.
The airspace closure, the third since April 2024, reflects deteriorating India-Pakistan relations, with both nations banning each other’s airlines, impacting 12% of South Asia’s air traffic. Pakistan’s military cited security concerns, alleging Indian jets violated airspace, though India claims its strikes avoided civilian areas. The shutdown affected 50% of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport operations, with 20% of flights rerouted via Oman. Economic losses reached $10 million, exacerbating Pakistan’s $350 billion economy’s 5% growth strain under a $7 billion IMF loan.
Global calls for de-escalation, including from the G7 and China, urged dialogue, but Pakistan’s National Security Committee, meeting on May 8, vowed a “befitting response.” The closure disrupted 15% of regional trade routes, with 90% of Pakistan’s remittances from Gulf countries delayed. The Pakistan Air Force, deploying 200 jets, maintained heightened alert, while 1,000 schools in Punjab closed. The airspace reopened on May 8, but sporadic restrictions persist, with 30% of flights facing delays, underscoring the fragility of regional stability amid nuclear risks.