Fact Check: "Pakistan International Airlines operates only six flights weekly over India."
What We Know
The claim that "Pakistan International Airlines operates only six flights weekly over India" is rooted in the current geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, which have significantly impacted air traffic between the two countries. As of May 2025, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been operating flights primarily to Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, with its routes being affected by India's closure of airspace to Pakistani airlines. Specifically, PIA operates two flights weekly from Islamabad and one flight weekly from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur, totaling three flights to that destination, and one flight weekly to Beijing, making a total of four flights that could be considered as operating over or near Indian airspace (source-2, source-4).
However, the claim simplifies the situation, as it does not account for the fact that PIA's operations have been significantly rerouted or restricted due to the ongoing conflict, and the actual number of flights directly impacted by Indian airspace restrictions is indeed limited.
Analysis
The assertion that PIA operates only six flights weekly over India is partially true. While it is accurate that PIA has limited flights that would traditionally cross Indian airspace, the current geopolitical climate has led to a situation where these flights are either rerouted or canceled. As noted, PIA's operations to Kuala Lumpur and Beijing are the only routes that could be affected by Indian airspace restrictions (source-1, source-3).
The credibility of the sources used to analyze this claim is generally high. The information from ch-aviation and Reuters is based on flight tracking data and official statements from PIA, which lends reliability to the details regarding the number of flights and their operational status. However, the interpretation of these flights as "over India" is misleading, as the current operational routes have been adjusted to avoid Indian airspace altogether due to the ongoing tensions (source-2, source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that "Pakistan International Airlines operates only six flights weekly over India" is partially true. While it reflects the current operational status of PIA, it fails to capture the broader context of air traffic disruptions due to geopolitical tensions. The actual number of flights that would typically cross Indian airspace has been significantly reduced, and PIA's operations have been rerouted to avoid these areas. Thus, while the number of flights is accurate, the implications of the claim do not fully represent the current aviation landscape.
