ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s continued closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft is set to reach the one-year mark this week, as authorities have extended the restriction for another month through a newly issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Tuesday.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, the ban will remain in force until 5am on May 24, 2026. The directive applies broadly to all Indian-registered, leased, commercial and military aircraft, effectively barring them from entering Pakistani airspace.
The restriction was first imposed on April 24, 2025, amid escalating tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Since then, no Indian airline has been permitted to transit through Pakistan, forcing carriers to take longer alternative routes, significantly increasing operational costs.
Industry estimates suggest that Indian airlines have incurred losses amounting to billions of rupees over the past year due to extended flight durations, higher fuel consumption and logistical disruptions. Pakistani aviation, by contrast, has experienced minimal impact.
The airspace closure was introduced as a reciprocal measure after New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following heightened tensions triggered by the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India blamed Pakistan for the incident, an allegation Islamabad firmly rejected while calling for an impartial and transparent investigation.
Tensions further escalated when India shut its own airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025. Days later, on May 6-7, India carried out strikes on multiple Pakistani cities, which Islamabad described as unprovoked. In response, Pakistan launched a large-scale military operation, codenamed “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” targeting several Indian military positions.
Pakistani officials said that their forces downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with dozens of drones during the confrontation. The hostilities lasted approximately 87 hours before a ceasefire agreement was reached on May 10, 2025, with mediation from the United States.
Despite the cessation of direct military conflict, aviation restrictions have remained in place, reflecting the persistence of strained diplomatic ties. This is not the first time Pakistan has restricted its airspace for Indian flights.
Similar measures were implemented during the 1999 Kargil conflict and again following the 2019 Pulwama crisis. In both instances, Indian carriers faced more severe operational disruptions due to their reliance on westbound routes that typically pass through Pakistani airspace.
The latest extension underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, with no immediate indication of a return to normal aviation operations between the two countries.
