International Flight Operations Suspended in Pakistan

[Abbas Ali]

Suspension of international flight operations for two weeks at Pakistani airports being considered.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Flight operations, including chartered and private flights, suspended in Pakistan for two weeks from March 21 8:00 PM to April 4 8:00 PM.

PIA aircraft currently outside in Pakistan will be allowed to return after the deadline also.

Operation of cargo and diplomatic flights will be allowed.

Pakistani airports will be better prepared for COVID-19 when international flight operations resume on April 4. By that time large capacity and well-equiped quarantines will also be ready in different Pakistani cities.

Abbas

[A310]

Are you sure about domestic operations?

[Abbas Ali]

Aaj News channel was reporting suspension of domestic and international flights for two weeks.

Now it seems only international flights have been suspended.

Abbas

[bukhari917]

(A0211/20 NOTAMN
Q)OPXX/QFAXX///A/000/999/
A)OPKR OPLR
B)2003211501 C)2004041500 EST
E)GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN HAS DECIDED TO SUSPEND OPERATION OF
ALL INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER, CHARTERED AND PRIVATE AIRCRAFT
INBOUND FLIGHTS TO PAKISTAN. EFFECTIVE FROM MARCH 21, 2020,
1501 UTC / 2001 PST TO APRIL 04, 2020, 1500 UTC / 2000 PST.
THIS IS A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION IMPOSED DUE TO EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.

UPON RESUMPTION OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER, CHARTERED AND
PRIVATE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS TO PAKISTAN, THE COVID-19
RT-PCR TEST CERTIFICATION FROM POINTS OF ORIGIN WILL NOT BE
MANDATORY.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THE ABOVE WOULD BE THE DIPLOMATIC,
SPECIAL/CARGO FLIGHTS, HOWEVER, THEY WILL BE SUBJECTED TO
HEALTH SCREENINGS ON ARRIVAL IN PAKISTAN. THEY CAN ALSO
BE SUBJECTED TO ISOLATION/QUARANTINE AS PER ADVICE OF THE
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.)

The NOTAM says INBOUND flights have been suspended. Does it mean ferry flights will be allowed for OUTBOUND flights?

[Abbas Ali]

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf informed that between March 21 and April 4 international ferry flights to Pakistan will be allowed to transport passengers from Pakistan to foreign countries.

Recently, there were reports about Turkish Airlines considering to operate such flights.

Abbas

[shayan0321]

UPDATE:

PRESS RELEASE
AVIATION DIVISION
21-03-2020

TRAVEL ADVISORY - NOVEL CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)

ISLAMABAD () The WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Most of the countries have now reported cases of COVID-19. The Government is making all-out efforts to deal with a rapidly evolving situation which is a challenge, not only for Pakistan but the whole world. Proactive, comprehensive and coordinated steps continue to be taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19, with a view to ensuring safety and security of our nationals and people traveling to and from Pakistan.

2. As the situation evolves, the Government continues to review the measures/ arrangements in place, including the WHO recommendations to keep its population safe.

3. Against this backdrop and after carefully examining all options, the Government of Pakistan has decided to suspend operation of all international passenger, chartered and private flights to Pakistan, effective from 21st March 2020 (2000 hrs PST) to 4th April 2020 (2000 hrs PST). This is a temporary suspension imposed due to exceptional circumstances. Upon resumption of international passenger, chartered and private flights to Pakistan, RT-PCR test certification from points of origin will not be mandatory.

4. Diplomats and special/ cargo aircrafts are exempted from the conditions above. However, they will be subjected to appropriate health screenings on arrival. They can also be isolated / quarantined as per advice of health professionals.

5. The Government of Pakistan is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of its people. COVID-19 is a global challenge entailing a global response. Individual responsibility is critical for collective security. Your safety lies in keeping others safe.

[Abbas Ali]

Earlier, British Airways had announced suspension of flights between London and Islamabad for two weeks, according to report in March 21 newspaper:

https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date= ... 2_46431928

Abbas

[bukhari917]

Flight status on Qatar Airways website says flights between ISB and DOH are cancelled for this whole week including 24th Mar but I have a confirmed flight from ISB to AMS via DOH and when i go on Manage booking and login using PNR and Last name, my flight status is still confirmed.

Anyone has any insight?

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Boeing 777 aircraft currently outside Pakistan include:

Boeing 777-200ER registration AP-BGJ performing Birmingham to Islamabad flight PK792. Scheduled to arrive in Islamabad at 6:00 AM on March 22.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bgj

Boeing 777-200ER registration AP-BGK performing London to Islamabad flight PK786. Scheduled to arrive in Islamabad at 5:30 AM on March 22.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bgk

Boeing 777-300ER registration AP-BHV performing Islamabad to Manchester flight PK701.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bhv

Boeing 777-300ER registration AP-BID arrived in London as flight PK757 from Lahore.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bid

Boeing 777-200ER registration AP-BMH performing Copenhagen to Islamabad via Oslo flight PK772. Scheduled to arrive in Islamabad at 5:20 AM on March 22.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bmh

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Apparently, Turkish Airlines is going to operate ferry flight TK714 from Istanbul scheduled to land in Lahore at 5:10 AM on March 22.


Source: lahoreairport.com.pk

The aircraft will carry passengers from Lahore as flight TK715 to Istanbul.


Source: lahoreairport.com.pk

Transportation of passengers from Pakistan to foreign destinations is allowed by the government of Pakistan.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300 (registration TC-JOD) is airborne as Istanbul to Karachi ferry flight TK708.


Source: flightradar24.com

From Karachi the aircraft will carry passengers as flight TK709 to Istanbul on March 22.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-200 (registration TC-JNA) is airborne as Istanbul to Islamabad ferry flight TK710.


Source: flightradar24.com

From Islamabad the aircraft will carry passengers as flight TK711 to Istanbul on March 22.


Source: islamabadairport.com.pk

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300 (registration TC-JOB) is now airborne as Istanbul to Lahore ferry flight TK714.


Source: flightradar24.com

From Lahore, the aircraft will carry passengers as flight TK715 to Istanbul on March 22.


Source: lahoreairport.com.pk

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Emergency landings/diversions of international flights for technical/medical reasons will be allowed, according to news sources.

Abbas