PAKISTAN fully reopened its airspace today (4), authorities said, days after it closed its skies to all air travel, leaving thousands stranded worldwide as tensions with India soared.
The decision to close the airspace came last week after a rare aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan ignited fears of an all-out conflict, with world powers rushing to urge restraint.
"All airports across Pakistan are operational and airspace reopened," a spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said today, adding the process had been completed by 01.00 pm local time (0800 GMT).
Pakistan began reopening its airspace "gradually" from Friday (1), with flights allowed in and out of major cities.
But the backlog means major delays are still expected and authorities have urged passengers to check for more information with their airlines.
The closure disrupted major routes between Europe and South Asia, with mounting frustration from passengers stranded at international airports.
It also delayed attempts to search for a British and an Italian climber who went missing on Nanga Parbat, Pakistan's "killer mountain" and the ninth highest peak in the world, as rescue teams were forced to wait for permission to send up a helicopter.
(AFP)
Taylor Jones, Vinit Thakkar and Kyran Jones join forces to launch THG Indiagetty images
Taylor Jones and Vinit Thakkar come together to launch THG India getty images