UAE travel: Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai suspend Pakistan flights
Flights from India also face widespread disruption
DUBAI: Three of the UAE’s major carriers, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and FlyDubai, have temporarily suspended all flights to and from Pakistan until May 10.
The suspension comes in response to a sharp escalation in conflict between India and Pakistan, affecting flight operations across South Asia.
The decision by the airlines follows reports of renewed hostilities in the region, including drone strikes and military tensions along the India-Pakistan border. This has prompted authorities in both countries to restrict airspace access, leading to a domino effect on regional and international air travel.
Full flight cancellations
Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates confirmed that all flights to Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Sialkot, and Peshawar have been cancelled through Friday. In an official advisory, Emirates warned customers not to proceed to the airport if travelling to Pakistan, and said passengers on connecting flights would also not be allowed to board.
Affected flights include:
- Lahore: EK622–625
- Islamabad: EK612–615
- Sialkot: EK618–621
- Peshawar: EK636/637
- Karachi: EK600–607
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, also suspended its operations to Pakistan until May 10. Flights between Abu Dhabi and Islamabad (EY288/289, EY300/301) and Karachi (EY294/295, EY296/297) were cancelled on Friday, with the airline citing coordination with authorities and evolving regional developments.
FlyDubai followed suit, cancelling flights to Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot. Affected flights on May 10 include FZ331/332 (Karachi), FZ353/354 (Islamabad), FZ359/360 (Lahore), and FZ337/338 (Sialkot).
All three carriers have apologised to affected passengers and stated that customer safety remains their top priority.
Wider regional impact
The suspension of Pakistani routes comes amid a broader disruption to air travel across South Asia. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry closed 24 airports temporarily late on Thursday, as Indian military forces responded to what they described as “unprovoked attacks” by Pakistani drones and artillery fire.
In Pakistan, commercial air traffic has resumed nationwide following a brief suspension at four airports, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Despite this, many international airlines have opted to reroute or cancel flights entirely.
SpiceJet confirmed on social media that services to Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla, and Amritsar were suspended until at least 5:29am on May 10.
Airlines reroute flights
The effects of the conflict have stretched beyond South Asia, with ripple effects hitting long-haul routes. EVA Air, Taiwan’s leading international airline, warned passengers that its European-bound flights may face delays or diversions due to Pakistani airspace closures. Similarly, Thai Airways stated that rerouting would cause delays to some of its Europe and South Asia flights.
Air India, India’s national carrier, cancelled multiple domestic flights until Saturday, including services to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Chandigarh, Rajkot, and Bhuj. Air India Express, a budget subsidiary, halted operations to Amritsar, Gwalior, Jammu, Srinagar, and Hindon.
All airlines have indicated that they will continue to monitor the situation and update passengers as events unfold. Travellers are advised to check flight status in advance and avoid unnecessary airport visits.