Multiple UAE flights have been scrapped or redirected…
Emirates and Etihad, the UAE’s flagship airlines, have called off flights to several airports across Pakistan. Departures from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been put on pause, and a few planes were even rerouted mid-flight due to recent tensions unfolding in South Asia.
Emirates has pulled the plug on flights between Dubai and several Pakistani cities, including Sialkot, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. For now, flights to and from Karachi are still running as usual. The airline has urged travelers departing from Pakistan to hold off on heading to the airport.
Etihad reported that flights from Abu Dhabi to Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad on May 6 had to turn back mid-air and return to Abu Dhabi, following the sudden closure of Pakistani airspace. All upcoming flights from these cities to Abu Dhabi have been suspended until further notice.
Across the wider Gulf region, Qatar Airways has also hit pause on operations from Doha. In a social media statement, the airline announced it has “temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan due to the closure of Pakistani airspace.”
In India, domestic airlines have also responded with cancellation announcements, particularly affecting the northern regions. SpiceJet stated that airports in areas like Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar are shut down until further notice, warning that both departures and arrivals—as well as connecting flights—may face disruptions.
IndiGo has announced that all flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, and Jodhpur have been cancelled for the day.
On the international front, the ripple effects continue, with some global carriers adjusting their routes. Korean Air has rerouted its Seoul Incheon–Dubai flights for today, taking an alternate path due to the ongoing Pakistani airspace closure.
Passengers booked on affected flights are urged to keep an eye on official airline websites and social media channels for the latest updates—and to adjust their travel plans accordingly.
Images: Supplied
