Etihad Airways has officially announced the recommencement of its flight services to Pakistan, effective from March 6. This move comes in response to the heightened tensions in the Middle East following the recent Iran-Israel conflict, which had severely disrupted air travel across the region. The airline will restore its operations to Pakistan’s three major international airports: Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, ensuring that passengers can once again access vital air routes to and from the country.
In addition to Pakistan, Etihad Airways is set to resume flights to more than 50 destinations worldwide. These include key cities across Europe, the United Kingdom, and Central Asia, reflecting the airline’s broader strategy to reestablish its global network amid ongoing geopolitical challenges. The airline has finalized its flight schedule for the period spanning March 6 to March 19, aiming to provide safe and efficient travel options despite the precarious situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, other major carriers based in the Gulf region have also started to restore limited services. Emirates and Etihad Airways both resumed select flights to prominent international cities from their respective hubs on Friday. This comes as airlines work urgently to evacuate stranded travelers and maintain essential connectivity. The closure of much of the Middle East’s airspace to commercial flights, due to the threat posed by missile and drone attacks, has forced authorities to rely heavily on chartered flights and a reduced number of commercial services to facilitate evacuations.
Dubai International Airport, typically the busiest international airport in the world, experienced a significant surge in traffic on Thursday, with passenger movements nearly doubling compared to the previous day. However, overall activity remained at roughly 25% of its usual volume, data from the flight-tracking platform Flightradar24. This demonstrates the ongoing impact of regional instability on aviation operations in the area.
Emirates has confirmed it is operating a scaled-back schedule, servicing 82 destinations including major global cities such as London, Sydney, Singapore, and New York. On the other hand, Qatar’s Doha hub remains closed for the time being, although limited relief flights have been organized from neighboring Oman and Saudi Arabia to assist with passenger movements. These developments highlight the complex and evolving nature of air travel logistics in the Gulf amid the current crisis.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to unfold, airlines like Etihad are adapting their operations to ensure that passengers can travel with a degree of certainty and safety. The resumption of flights to Pakistan is a crucial step in reconnecting the region and supporting the movement of people and goods during these turbulent times.
