Pakistan reopens airspace after ceasefire with India
UAE-bound flights to restart following security clearance
DUBAI: Pakistan has reopened its entire airspace for all types of civilian and military flight operations following a formal ceasefire agreement with India, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued the statement just hours after Islamabad and New Delhi agreed to halt hostilities, which had escalated into a dangerous standoff involving drone incursions, missile strikes, and temporary airspace closures.
The dramatic turn came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced via social media that both nuclear-armed neighbours had reached a “full and immediate ceasefire.” According to Indian officials, the decision followed a call between the director generals of military operations (DGMOs) from both sides, in which they agreed to cease all land, sea, and air-based operations from 11:30 GMT (17:00 IST) on Saturday.
Airspace restored
Following the announcement, a spokesperson for the PAA confirmed that all Pakistani airports are once again operational. “All airports in the country are available for normal flight operations. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for schedule updates,” the official said in a press release issued Saturday evening.
The reopening marked a quick reversal from an earlier statement that had extended the nationwide airspace closure until 12pm on May 11.
The PAA explained that the closure was necessary for security reasons due to the “uncertain nature of the conflict” at the Line of Control (LoC). The agency had also issued multiple NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) affecting incoming and outgoing flights, particularly impacting connections with the UAE and other regional hubs.
UAE flight impact
While Pakistan’s airspace remained restricted, UAE-bound flights were significantly disrupted. Emirates confirmed that services to and from Pakistan were suspended through Monday, May 12, citing “uncertainty surrounding access to Pakistan’s airspace and airports.” Etihad Airways also halted all flights to Pakistan on Saturday, informing travellers that transiting passengers through Abu Dhabi without alternative arrangements would not be accepted for travel.
Meanwhile, Air Arabia temporarily suspended its services from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to Pakistan until May 13. Affected passengers were contacted directly by the airline and advised to check the airline’s website or customer service for rescheduling options.
India flight operations
On the Indian side, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that 32 airports in northern and western India – including Amritsar, Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, and Chandigarh – had been “temporarily closed” due to military activity. The closures, in effect until 3.59am UAE time on May 15, were issued following NOTAMs by the Airports Authority of India. However, major UAE airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and flydubai stated that their operations to unaffected Indian cities continued as scheduled. Both Emirates and Etihad Airways avoided affected Indian airports entirely, with no services planned for the 32 temporarily closed airports.
Officials in both countries say that their respective DGMOs would speak again on May 12 at 12:00 to assess the status of the ceasefire and review any remaining security risks. In the meantime, flight operations continue to normalise as airlines restore affected services and resume schedules.