ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft until April 24, 2026, a restriction that has been in place since April last year amid continuing tensions between the two countries.
According to a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday, all aircraft registered in India will remain barred from using Pakistani airspace.
The ban applies to flights operated by Indian airlines as well as military and civilian aircraft owned or leased by India.
Pakistan airspace will remain closed to Indian-registered aircraft and those operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights, until early hours of 24 April 2026. #PAA
— Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) March 18, 2026
Pakistan first closed its airspace to Indian flights on April 23, 2025, following the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
After the incident, India levelled allegations against Pakistan, which Islamabad rejected, and tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated.
Although a ceasefire was later reached through US mediation last year, the airspace restrictions have remained in place.
“Pakistan’s airspace will continue to remain closed for Indian-registered aircraft,” the authority said in a statement.
The continued closure has disrupted the operations of Indian airlines, particularly on westbound routes to Europe and North America.
As a result, Indian carriers have been forced to take longer routes that bypass Pakistani airspace, leading to increased fuel costs and longer travel times.
According to Indian media reports, the restrictions have already resulted in financial losses worth billions of rupees for both state-run and private airlines.
