Several Gulf airliners resume flights from Pakistan as anti-virus measures ease

ISLAMABAD: Emirates announced that it has resumed flight operations from Pakistan after temporarily suspending them more than two months ago due to the coronavirus outbreak, a statement released by the Dubai-based airline said on Tuesday. However, flights leaving Pakistan for Dubai will only carry UAE residents and air freight, while operations from Dubai to Pakistan are currently available for cargo only, the statement added.

The airline further announced to run daily flights from Karachi while capital Islamabad will have the service on Thursdays and Saturdays with Lahore enjoying the route throughout the week with exception to Wednesday and Saturday, according to the official handout. In addition to resuming scheduled services to Dubai, Emirates said it is also working closely with the Pakistan government to facilitate select flights for repatriation of Pakistani citizens from the UAE.

Last week the airline operated “two special flights from Dubai to Karachi and Islamabad repatriating Pakistani nationals stranded in the UAE,” airline said. On May 31 Gulf Air resumed its operations to Pakistan with a direct flight from the Islamabad International Airport to its hub in Bahrain.  Etihad Airways also resumed transit flights to Pakistan this month.

The resumption of international airlines came after Pakistan's aviation sector announced on May 30  that it has reopened its commercial airspace for outbound international flights after temporarily closing it in March.