Islamabad: Pakistan has experienced a significant decrease in international flight departures, with numbers dropping nearly 50 percent from 1,127 flights in early February to 572 flights in early March, amid escalating tensions in the region.

According to the Gilani Research Foundation, data obtained from the Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics Aviation Dashboard indicates that the decrease in flights corresponds with disruptions in regional airspace following the escalation of conflict in Iran in late February 2026. The airspace restrictions and heightened security concerns have led to a reduction in flight frequency, cancellations, and rerouting by major international airlines across key transit regions, including Iran and parts of the Gulf.

Pakistan’s reliance on the Gulf aviation network means these disruptions have had a direct impact on outbound flights from the country’s airports. The route structure has also seen a shift, with early February flights being spread across various Gulf destinations such as Dubai and Jeddah. By early March, traffic has concentrated more on Saudi-bound routes, specifically Jeddah and Riyadh, suggesting that essential and religious travel persisted while general Gulf travel declined.

This trend underscores how external geopolitical tensions can swiftly influence Pakistan’s aviation activities, given its integration with Middle Eastern transit routes. The analysis conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan Digital Analytics highlights the vulnerability of Pakistan’s aviation sector to regional instability.