Hundreds of passengers faced long delays and frustration at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Monday after five international and domestic flights were cancelled due to technical and operational issues, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to the airport’s flight schedule, an Oman Air flight (WY-324) bound for Muscat was among the affected departures. The airline cited technical reasons for the cancellation.
Similarly, Airblue flight PA-110, scheduled to depart from Karachi to Dubai, was also grounded, disrupting the travel plans of dozens of passengers headed for the United Arab Emirates.
The disruption extended to domestic routes as well. Two Air Sial flights, PF-145 and PF-132, scheduled to depart for Lahore, were cancelled without prior notice. In addition, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, PK-306, which was supposed to fly from Karachi to Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, was also cancelled.
The flight cancellations left passengers stranded for hours inside the terminal, many of them families with young children and elderly travelers who struggled amid the growing crowd and lack of information.
Several travelers expressed frustration over poor communication from airline staff and limited seating arrangements, as hundreds waited for updates or alternative arrangements.
Airport authorities stated that the cancellations were caused by “technical maintenance and operational constraints,” adding that airlines are working to reschedule flights and accommodate affected passengers.
Frequent travelers have urged airlines and airport management to improve coordination and passenger communication systems, particularly during disruptions caused by operational or weather-related issues.
Experts say that Karachi’s airport, being one of Pakistan’s busiest, often faces congestion and technical challenges due to high passenger traffic and aging infrastructure. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reportedly reviewing procedures to prevent similar large-scale disruptions in the future.
For now, stranded passengers continue to await flight rescheduling, highlighting the need for improved crisis management and better passenger care at one of the country’s most critical aviation hubs.
