Karachi: At least 11 international flights awaiting departure have remained stranded at airports across Pakistan for the past three days as aviation operations continue to be disrupted following the US-Israel strikes on Iran and the ensuing regional escalation.
The strikes, which Iranian authorities say resulted in the martyrdom of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggered retaliatory missile attacks by Tehran targeting Gulf states and Israel, sharply intensifying hostilities across the Middle East.
In Pakistan, a foreign airline flight has been grounded at Multan International Airport for three days, while two other international carriers remain stranded at Sialkot International Airport, aviation sources said. Passengers have faced uncertainty amid ongoing airspace restrictions and flight cancellations.
Regional airspace closures have significantly altered global flight paths. Overflights through Pakistani and Afghan airspace have increased multiple times as airlines reroute services to avoid restricted Middle Eastern corridors.
According to flight tracking data, several routes passing through Pakistan and Afghanistan have become among the busiest in the world in recent days.
Major aviation hubs in the Gulf, including Dubai International Airport — the world’s busiest international airport — along with Abu Dhabi and Doha, have either shut down temporarily or severely limited operations as security concerns persist.
The suspension of operations at these transit hubs has disrupted long-haul connectivity between Europe and Asia, leaving aircraft and crew stranded and forcing airlines worldwide to cancel or reroute services. Carriers have also been avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace, which had grown in importance after the Russia-Ukraine conflict led to closures in those regions.
Aviation analysts warned that prolonged airspace restrictions could lead to higher fuel costs, extended flight times and broader schedule disruptions. The narrowing of available air corridors has further intensified congestion, adding operational challenges for global carriers.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as uncertainty prevails across the region.