Islamabad Airport to Remain Open, Flight Pauses Scheduled for Air Force Drills

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has refuted media claims that Islamabad International Airport would be shut down for eight days. The airport, serving the nation’s capital, will instead experience brief flight suspensions on particular days.

These temporary pauses are necessary to facilitate practice runs by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets preparing for the Independence Day flypast. Authorities have stated that these actions are designed to maintain the safety of air traffic during the rehearsals.

Officials clarified that each interruption will be approximately two hours in length.

Scheduled Flight Suspensions

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the PAA outlines the following schedule:

  • Civilian flights (both arrivals and departures) will be halted from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on August 6-9 and August 11-14.
  • Additionally, there will be a suspension window from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM on August 11-13.
Restrictions During Rehearsals

During these specified hours, the airspace above the capital will be utilized by fighter jets, preventing civilian airplanes from landing or taking off at Islamabad International Airport. The NOTAM has also urged airlines and pilots to proceed cautiously throughout the rehearsal periods.

The authority has emphasized that flight operations will proceed as usual outside of the allocated time slots. Passengers are encouraged to confirm their flight schedules with their respective airlines prior to heading to the airport to avoid potential delays or disruptions.