Pakistan’s aviation sector has suffered an estimated Rs20 billion loss as flight operations continue to face major disruptions due to rising tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel in the Middle East. Air travel to and from Pakistan has remained severely affected for the fifth consecutive day after several Gulf countries imposed airspace restrictions, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights. Reports indicate that around 578 Pakistani and international flights have been cancelled so far, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing significant financial losses for airlines. On Wednesday alone, about 162 flights to Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled from major airports including Jinnah International Airport, Islamabad International Airport, Allama Iqbal International Airport, Bacha Khan International Airport, Multan International Airport, Sialkot International Airport and Faisalabad International Airport. Key routes to Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Sharjah, Kuwait City and Manama were among the most affected, highlighting the widespread impact of the regional conflict on Pakistan’s aviation industry. ✈️