ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its airspace closure on all Indian aircraft by another month, the Pakistan Airports Authority said on Monday.
According to a new NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), the ban applies to all Indian commercial airlines, India-registered aircraft, and military flights from entering Pakistani airspace.
The ban, initially enforced on April 24, following an escalation of tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.
As a result, Indian airlines have been forced to reroute international flights, causing longer travel times and increased operational costs.
The closure was first extended on May 23 and later extended for another month.
India-Pakistan tensions
Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India swiftly blamed Pakistan without presenting any credible evidence.
Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly denied the Indian allegations. Pakistan also offered a neutral and transparent international investigation into the incident.
However, New Delhi did not respond to Pakistan’s offer and continued with its aggressive posture.
On the night of May 6-7, India launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties.
Pakistan responded firmly and downed five Indian fighter jets and destroyed a brigade headquarters and several military posts. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week.
On May 10, when tensions between the two countries peaked, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan.
According to the government, 40 civilians — including 7 women and 15 children — lost their lives in the Indian aggression, and 121 others sustained injuries.
Financial blow to Indian airlines
According to Reuters news agency, Indian airlines have suffered losses exceeding PKR 8 billion in April alone. These include PKR 5 billion in additional fuel costs and PKR 3 billion in expenses incurred due to forced stopovers by long-haul flights.
It said that Indian carriers operating Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 family aircraft have had to endure 2 to 4 hours of extra flying time per journey. With approximately 150 flights rerouted daily, fuel consumption has surged dramatically.
Experts estimate that a Boeing 777 consumes about 6,668 kilograms of fuel per hour, while an Airbus A319, A320, or A321 uses around 2,400 kilograms per hour.
At the current average jet fuel price of $0.82 per kilogram, Indian airlines are spending nearly $557,625 daily on additional fuel alone. That amounts to over PKR 5 billion in fuel-related losses in one month.
Air India is reportedly the worst-hit carrier and has requested financial support from the Indian government. Other airlines, including Akasa Air, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India Express, have also faced operational disruptions.
