Several airlines in the UAE, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia, have resumed flight operations to Pakistan and India following a ceasefire agreement between the two countries after four days of intense fighting. The airlines announced on Sunday, May 11, that they would partially restore services to Pakistan, subject to ongoing developments in the region.

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) confirmed the full restoration of airspace across the nation and issued an updated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). A spokesperson for the PAA stated, “All airports across the country are now available for normal flight operations.” The authority advised passengers to check with their airlines for updated flight schedules.

Despite the reopening of airspace, officials cautioned that it may take time for operations to fully normalize, as many aircraft and ground equipment had been moved to secure locations due to the heightened tensions.

On the Indian side, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) announced the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India, effective from May 9 to May 14, extending until 5:29 am Indian Standard Time (IST) on May 15, 2025. The AAI cited “operational reasons” for this disruption. The affected airports include Adhampur, Amritsar, Jammu, and several others, leading to many domestic and international flights being redirected to major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai, causing significant delays.

In relation to UAE-Pakistan flights, the airlines had previously canceled operations after Pakistan closed its airspace on May 7. The airspace was reopened late on May 11 after a ceasefire agreement was reached. Emirates announced it would resume regular flight services to Pakistan starting May 11, with specific flights operating to Karachi, Sialkot, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar.

Etihad Airways confirmed that all scheduled services between Abu Dhabi and Pakistan for May 10 were canceled but indicated that select daytime services on May 11 were expected to operate, including flights to Islamabad and Karachi. However, some evening services on May 11 were also canceled. The airline noted that the situation is still evolving and further disruptions could occur.

Flydubai plans to begin daily flights to Peshawar from Dubai International’s Terminal 2 starting May 15, expanding its existing network in Pakistan. Air Arabia Group announced it would resume all operations to Pakistan on May 11, but warned that the resumption depends on the current situation. The airline provided a list of resumed flights, including services from Sharjah to Karachi and Lahore.

Additionally, Qatar Airways stated it would maintain flight suspensions to several destinations in Pakistan and one in India, emphasizing that passenger safety is their highest priority. Oman Airways also canceled flights between Muscat and Karachi, continuing to monitor the situation closely for further updates.