Dubai-bound flights face delays as Pakistan reels from flood crisis
Sialkot airport suspends all flights as floodwaters inundate runways
DUBAI – Air travel between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, continues to face disruptions as floods and adverse weather impact flight schedules across the country. While major international routes remain operational, passengers travelling to and from Dubai have reported delays, diversions, and extended layovers.
On Saturday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) confirmed that Sialkot–Dubai operations have been temporarily shifted to Lahore after the Sialkot airport suspended all flights. A Dubai-bound flight originally scheduled from Sialkot was diverted to Lahore. Earlier this week, flydubai’s Islamabad–Dubai service was delayed by nearly 15 hours, while another Sialkot–Dubai flight was held for 17 hours due to adverse conditions. Karachi–Dubai services remain operational but are also affected by weather-related delays.
Flight disruptions extend beyond Dubai connections. A PIA service from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar (PK218) was diverted to Multan due to poor weather, while Islamabad–Karachi flight PA201 was cancelled. Passengers are being advised to check flight status regularly as Pakistan’s aviation network adjusts dynamically to the floods and ongoing monsoon spell.
Flight cancellations
Flood-related disruptions and weather conditions have forced the cancellation of at least 23 flights nationwide. According to the latest flight schedule, 14 foreign airline services from Sialkot Airport were cancelled on Saturday alone, with all other flights rerouted through Lahore.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">وزیراعلٰی پنجاب <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaryamNSharif</a> کی خصوصی ہدایات پر سیلاب سے متاثرہ سڑکوں اور پلوں کی مرمت اور عوامی رابطے کی بحالی کیلئے محکمہ مواصلات و تعمیرات اپنے تمام تر وسائل اور مشینری کیساتھ فیلڈ میں موجود ہے۔ محکمہ کی جانب سے عوامی فلاح اور ریلیف کی سرگرمیاں برق رفتاری سے جاری ہیں۔… <a href="https://t.co/NTKoJel5SP">pic.twitter.com/NTKoJel5SP</a></p>— Communication And Works Department (@cwdpunjab) <a href="https://twitter.com/cwdpunjab/status/1961713907091034181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Islamabad–Gilgit flights PK601, PK602, PK603, and PK604 were cancelled due to poor visibility, while two private flights from Karachi to Skardu (PA704 and PA705) were also scrapped. In addition, Lahore–Skardu services PA480 and PA481 were cancelled.
Nationwide delays have reached 48 flights, including 18 departures and arrivals at Islamabad Airport delayed between one and six hours. Fifteen flights at Lahore Airport have faced delays of one to seven hours, while Karachi Airport reported ten delays ranging from one to five and a half hours. Six Karachi–Islamabad flights were delayed by up to six hours, while five Karachi–Lahore services experienced delays of up to three and a half hours.
Sialkot airport closed
Sialkot International Airport, a key hub for northern Punjab and international travellers to the Gulf, has been particularly hard-hit by the floods. The airport authority confirmed that all flight operations have been suspended until 10:00 pm on 31 August as floodwaters are being drained from the runways.
A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) was issued to alert airlines, with PIA and other carriers rerouting operations to Lahore. Passengers booked from Sialkot have been advised to contact airlines for updated schedules and report instead to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Airport officials stated that all equipment at Sialkot airport remained safe, with dewatering pumps deployed continuously. Staff are working round the clock to restore operations.
Floods in Pakistan
The aviation disruption is part of a broader crisis gripping Pakistan. Punjab has recorded 30 deaths from floods so far, with the government launching controlled breaches of bunds to protect major cities. Nearly half a million residents have been evacuated, including 40,000 who left voluntarily after flood warnings. Authorities say over 1.5 million people are affected across 2,300 villages.
In Lahore, aerial images on Saturday showed residential areas partially submerged after the Ravi River overflowed. The Punjab Disaster Management Authority described the rescue mission as the largest in the province’s history.
Meanwhile, Sindh province is bracing for the arrival of floodwaters between 2 and 3 September, with officials warning that 1.6 million people could be at risk. Relief camps have been established at more than 500 points, with hundreds of rescue boats placed on standby.
The National Disaster Management Authority announced that spillways at Tarbela Dam would be opened on Saturday evening to manage inflows, with water discharge expected to reach 250,000 cusecs. Residents of low-lying areas along the Indus River have been warned to remain on alert.
Since late June, Pakistan’s floods have killed more than 830 people, half of them in August alone. The disaster has displaced more than 210,000 people nationwide, adding pressure to a country still recovering from the devastating 2022 floods that caused damages worth over $14.9 billion.