The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that the country’s airspace will be closed to all types of flights between 3:15 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. local time on May 10, 2025.
The suspension, confirmed by the Pakistan Airports Authority, follows heightened regional tensions after reported explosions near airbases.
The flight schedule at Islamabad Airport has been disrupted after a recent attack in Rawalpindi. Departures of both national and private airline flights from Islamabad Airport have been delayed.
Currently, no flights are operating within Islamabad’s airspace. Arrivals and departures at Lahore and Sialkot airports have also been affected.
On Friday, India criticized Pakistan for keeping its airspace open during the initial offensive, accusing Islamabad of a deliberate attempt to use civilian aircraft as cover to deter an immediate counterstrike.
At a press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) said, “Pakistan refrained from shutting down its civil airspace despite carrying out an unprovoked and unsuccessful drone and missile attack on Indian cities. This shows a clear and dangerous tactic of using civilian airliners as shields, fully aware that India’s air defense forces would respond robustly.”
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