UAE airlines extend flight cancellations to Pakistan amid conflict with India

Dubai: UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad Airways have announced an extension of their flight cancellations to Pakistan due to the continued closure of Pakistani airspace. The disruptions stem from ongoing tensions and conflict with neighbouring India.

In an update passenger advisory, Emirates said it would be extending the suspension of flight operations to all points in Pakistan until May 12. This extension is attributed to the "ongoing uncertainty surrounding access to the country's airspace and airports."

The Dubai-based carrier listed a series of cancelled flights between Dubai and Pakistani cities, including Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, Peshawar, and Karachi, spanning from May 10 to May 12, with some return flights affected on May 13.

Passengers with cancelled flights are urged not to proceed to the airport and instead contact their booking agents or Emirates directly for alternative travel arrangements.

Here are the Emirates flight cancellations in simple text format:

Dubai-Lahore-Dubai

Dubai-Islamabad-Dubai

Dubai-Sialkot-Dubai

Dubai-Peshawar-Dubai

Dubai-Karachi-Dubai

Emirates has advised passengers booked on connecting flights to Pakistan that they would not be accepted for travel until further notice.

Abu Dhabi flights

Following suit, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways confirmed the cancellation of all its services to and from Pakistan, which was scheduled for May 10. The affected routes include multiple daily flights between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport, Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

Etihad also stated that passengers transiting through Abu Dhabi to connect to these cancelled flights would not be accepted for travel from their origin unless they have made separate onward arrangements from Abu Dhabi.

The airline actively assists affected passengers with rebooking and exploring alternative travel options. Emirates and Etihad closely monitor the evolving situation and coordinate with relevant authorities.

Following the deadly Pahalgham attack on April 22, where 26 tourists were killed, tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated.

On May 7, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a series of cross-border missile strikes targeting what it claimed were terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan's Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. 

Pakistan condemned these strikes as an "act of war," reporting civilian casualties and promising retaliation.  

Subsequently, both nations have accused each other of further aggressive actions, including drone attacks and artillery fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. These exchanges have led to casualties on both sides and prompted the evacuation of civilians from border villages.