Luftraum über Pakistan weiterhin für Überfliege geschlossen!
Nächster Update: 5. März 2019 1600h Phil. Time!
Update 04MAR 0900Z: Pakistan FIRs remain closed to overflights until 05MAR 0800Z. Specific routes have been opened for flights to/from six airports: OPKC/Karachi, OPPS/Peshawar, OPQT/Quetta, OPIS/Islamabad, OPFA/Faisalabad and OPLA/Lahore.
Pakistan Airports and Airspace
Pakistan has today issued a new Notam extending the airspace closure until 0800Z on March 5th (1300 local time). This may still be extended further.
However, certain routes have been opened for flights to/from six airports: OPKC/Karachi
OPPS/Peshawar
OPQT/Quetta
OPIS/Islamabad
OPFA/Faisalabad
OPLA/Lahore
The details of the routes can be found in the Notams issued. None of the entry/exit points connect with Indian airspace.
India – carry extra fuel
There are no longer any restrictions for Indian airspace, but as it remains congested with a lot of flights re-routing around Pakistan airspace, India is advising operators to carry extra fuel:
G0235/19 (Issued for VIDF VABF VOMF VECF)
1. ALL WEST BOUND FLIGHTS OVERFLYING INDIAN AIRSPACE MAY EXPECT TACTICAL RE-ROUTING AND/OR ALLOCATION OF NON-ECONOMICAL FLIGHT LEVELS DUE CLOSURE OF PAKISTAN AIRSPACE AND RESULTANT ANTICIPATED CONGESTION ON ATS ROUTES.
2. AIRLINES ARE ADVISED TO CARRY APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY FUEL.
27 FEB 16:15 2019 UNTIL 07 MAR 23:59 2019.
CREATED: 27 FEB 16:24 2019
Comment: The estimated end date shows March 7th – an indication, perhaps, of how long India expects the situation to continue.
India – 8 airports previously closed have now been reopened
When the Pakistan airspace closure was first announced on Feb 27, India initially closed 8 airports in the north of the country near to the border with Pakistan:
VIAR – Amritsar – International Civil
VIPK – Pathankot – Domestic Civil
VISR – Sringagar – International Civil/Mil
VIJU – Jammu – Domestic Civil
VILH – Leh – Domestic Civil/Mil
VISM – Shimla – Domestic Civil
VIGG – Langra – Domestic Civil/Mil
VIBR – Bhuntar – Domestic Civil
However, these have now re-opened, and flight operations have resumed.
Afghanistan – airspace has now reopened
Although the airspace is now open again, it’s only really useful if you’re headed to airport in Afghanistan or Pakistan. Afghanistan is saying that traffic bound for Pakistan cannot use a bunch of waypoints along the border.
G0446/19 – KABUL FIR NOT ACCEPTING OVERFLIGHT TRAFFIC SOUTHEAST BOUND EXITING INTO PAKISTAN AIRSPACE. THE FOLLOWING FIXES ARE CLOSED:
FIRUZ (P500)
LAJAK (L509)
SITAX (M875)
DOBAT (N644)
BIROS (L750)
RIMPA (G202)
ASLUM (P628)
SERKA (V390/N636)
DAVER (TACTICAL TRAFFIC)
GADER (A453)
ALL OTHER AIRCRAFT REQUESTING TO OVERFLY KABUL FIR MUST ENTER AND EXIT VIA THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ON APPROVED ATC ROUTINGS: IRAN, TURKMENABAT, UZBEKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN. CONTACT KABUL FIR SUPERVISOR +93-79-404-8266 FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION OR INQUIRES.
28 FEB 09:00 2019 UNTIL 28 MAY 23:59 2019.
CREATED: 28 FEB 10:54 2019
Why?
The BBC explained it best: Pakistan says it has shot down two Indian Air Force jets. A Pakistani spokesman said one plane had fallen inside Pakistani territory and pilots had been arrested. India however says all pilots are accounted for. It’s a major escalation of simmering tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours and comes a day after India launched air strikes in Pakistani territory, it says on militant bases. The trigger was a deadly attack on 14 February when a militant killed more than 40 Indian troops in disputed Kashmir.
When will it end?
The Pakistan Notam is currently valid until Tuesday morning. It looks like a lot depends on the politics to be played out as this unfolds. For now, avoid Pakistan airspace (no choice right now), and consider routings over India carefully.
Eurocontrol assessment of impact (Network Manager)
First impact assessment: showed:
-400 daily flights impacted that will be rerouted mainly south west via MUSCAT FIR
-Severe impact on Iran (extra flights) and Georgia/Azerbaijan (lost flights) with more than 100 flights re-routed. Flight through Turkey will come from the interface with Iran instead of to/from Georgia – this should not be a major issue.
-Minor impact on Poland with +/- 20 extra flights
-The choice of rerouting is left to airlines.