KARACHI: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed Saturday that Pakistan’s airspace remains fully operational and safe, as Iranian authorities shut Tehran airspace to civil aircraft until 0800 UTC (1300 PKT) on March 1, 2026.
According to the details, the expansion of the earlier six-hour restriction by Iranian authorities has raised the level of geopolitical tension in the region.
Critically, the new NOTAM carries a stark warning to all aircraft over the high seas within the Tehran FIR, encompassing the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, citing security reasons.
The extended closure now covers the peak night time flying hours — precisely the window the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) had earlier identified as the most critical period for long-haul east-west transit traffic.
Dozens of international airlines operating routes between Europe, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia are expected to seek alternate corridors, with Pakistani airspace emerging as a primary rerouting option.
The PAA, which had already placed its air traffic control teams on heightened readiness in anticipation of such a scenario, is now expected to manage a significantly elevated volume of over flight traffic through the night and into Sunday morning.
The authority also confirmed that all operations within Pakistani airspace remain fully normal, with no delays, restrictions, or safety concerns reported. Air traffic management units are operating in close coordination with national and international aviation partners, PAA said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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