The main airport in Pakistan, Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, will be shut down for five months beginning on May 1, 2023. The runway, taxiways, and other airport infrastructure require urgent maintenance, which led to the closure.
The airport has been shut down for a prolonged length of time twice in recent years; the first closure occurred in 2014.
Jinnah International Airport is an essential hub for local and foreign flights. Hence the shutdown is anticipated to impact air travel in the area considerably.
The airport’s operating airlines are scrambling to create alternative plans, including using nearby airports like Islamabad International Airport and Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
Concerns about closure’s effects on the economy, particularly in sectors like tourism and logistics, have also been voiced. The shutdown is anticipated to result in delays and interruptions in the movement of people and products because air travel is a vital means of transportation for local and international trade.
The Civil Aviation Authority has reassured the public that all essential steps will be taken to guarantee that the repairs are finished promptly and effectively and that other arrangements have been made for air travel during the shutdown period.
The five-month closure of Jinnah International Airport is still a significant blow to Pakistan’s aviation sector and the overall economy.
