UAE-Pakistan flights face disruptions for second day

UAE airlines have cancelled some flights to Pakistan on Thursday after the country shut down operations at its major airports, including Karachi, Lahore and Sialkot.

It comes a day after flight services to Pakistan were impacted after India hit multiple targets in Pakistan linked to the tourist killings in Jammu and Kashmir. 

In a statement sent to ARN News, Etihad Airways said some flights between Abu Dhabi and Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, have been cancelled on Thursday. 

"EY296 and EY297 between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport and Karachi Jinnah International Airport are currently planned to operate as scheduled, subject to airspace availability," the airline added in its statement. 

The Abu Dhabi carrier said it will continue to monitor the "evolving situation" and warned travellers of "further changes or disruption" to its Pakistan services. 

Meanwhile, Emirates said it is suspending all flights to Pakistan's Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, Peshawar and Karachi until May 10.

In an update on its official website, the airline said it's "due to the ongoing uncertainly surrounding access to the country’s airspace and airports".

The Dubai carrier said travellers "booked on connecting flights to Pakistan will not be accepted to travel until further notice".

Dubai low-cost carrier, flydubai, also confirmed "temporary suspension of flights between Dubai and Karachi" on Thursday. In a statement, the airline said flights to and from Islamabad and Lahore have also been cancelled. 

"Flights FZ 354 from Islamabad International Airport (ISB), FZ 360 from Lahore International Airport (LHE) and FZ 338 from Sialkot Airport (SKT) on 08 May were cancelled," a spokesperson for the airline said.  

Meanwhile, flydubai services to Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot remain unaffected.