ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Dense fog in Punjab has caused major disruptions to flight operations, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated at airports across the region.
A total of 11 flights have been cancelled due to the thick fog, while three others were rerouted to alternative airports. In addition, 53 flights have faced significant delays, with travelers unsure of when they will finally reach their destinations.
Among the affected flights, PIA’s Karachi to Faisalabad routes (PK 340 and PK 341) and Lahore to Quetta flights (PK 322 and PK 323) were among those cancelled. Foreign airlines have also been hit, with flights like SV 739 from Jeddah to Lahore, PIA’s Muscat to Sialkot flights (PK 281 and PK 282), and four flights from Gilgit to Islamabad (PK 601, PK 602, PK 605, and PK 606) all postponed.
In a further blow, QR 616, a foreign airline flight from Doha to Multan, initially landed in Islamabad before finally being diverted to Multan. Similarly, other international flights like PK 244 from Dammam to Sialkot and SV 738 from Jeddah to Lahore were forced to land in Islamabad due to zero visibility in Lahore.
Flights from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur (OD 132) and to Bangkok (TG 346) were among those unable to take off in the early morning hours. Meanwhile, seven flights between Karachi and Islamabad, and five flights between Karachi and Lahore, have been delayed, leaving passengers anxiously waiting for updates.
At Lahore Airport alone, a staggering 19 flights are facing delays in either takeoff or landing, with three flights bound for Dubai and Abu Dhabi facing delays of over six hours.
As passengers continue to wait for their flights, the disruption has become a chaotic and frustrating experience, with many left in limbo as they navigate the uncertainty brought on by the dense fog.
