Pakistan will be opening its airspace for commercial flights in phases from Friday, reports news agency ANI. Pakistan had closed its airspace for commercial operations and suspended flight operations across major airports after the Indian Air Force carried anti-terror strikes at terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot on Tuesday.
According to Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the flight operations at Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta airports will start from 6pm (local time) on Friday. The Notice to the Airmen (NOTAM) issued earlier had expired for suspension on Friday. The freshly issued NOTAM will be valid till March 4. The CAA is yet announce a decision on the resumption of flights from other major airports including Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad and others.
The closing of airspace by Pakistan had affected many international flight operations to India. International carriers, including Air Canada, had temporarily suspended operations to India.
Following the CAA announcement, Air Canada has decided to resume operations to India. Flights to New Delhi will resume tonight from both Toronto and Vancouver.
"Our flexible re-booking policy for customers remains in place. Information will be updated on the official Air Canada website as it becomes available. We are working to move all customers from yesterday," the Canadian carrier said in a statement.
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Air Canada had to cancel one flight to New Delhi from Vancouver, while another flight en route to India was turned back to Toronto.
