Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until August 24, 2026, according to a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA).
The new aviation notice was released on Saturday following government directives, continuing restrictions that have remained in force since April 23, 2025.
Under the latest Notam, the ban applies to all Indian-registered aircraft, Indian airlines, and aircraft leased by Indian operators.
The previous restriction was due to expire at 4:59am on July 24, but has now been extended for another month.
Restrictions remain in place since 2025
Pakistan first closed its airspace to Indian airlines in April 2025 after New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, an allegation Islamabad rejected while calling for an independent and transparent investigation.
In response to Pakistan’s decision, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025, leading to reciprocal restrictions between the two neighbouring countries.
Tensions escalated after military confrontation
Relations between Pakistan and India deteriorated further in May 2025, when India carried out strikes on several Pakistani cities.
Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting multiple Indian military installations in what it described as a large-scale retaliatory operation.
Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Flights as One-Year Mark Nears
According to Pakistani authorities, the military confrontation lasted nearly 87 hours before both countries agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10, 2025.
Pakistan has also stated that during the conflict it shot down eight Indian fighter aircraft, including three Rafale jets, along with dozens of drones. India has not publicly confirmed Pakistan’s claims regarding the number of aircraft lost.
Indian airlines face greater financial impact
The continued closure of Pakistani airspace has significantly affected Indian airlines, forcing many flights to take longer alternative routes, increasing fuel consumption, operational costs and travel times.
According to Pakistani officials, the repeated extensions of the airspace ban have resulted in billions of rupees in losses for Indian carriers, while Pakistan’s aviation sector has experienced comparatively limited disruption due to fewer flights requiring Indian airspace.
The latest extension means Indian airlines will continue to operate under these restrictions until August 24, unless the government issues a new directive before the current Notam expires.
Airspace closures have precedent
Pakistan has imposed similar airspace restrictions during previous periods of heightened tensions with India, including the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis.
Those restrictions also disrupted regional air travel, with Indian airlines bearing a larger share of the operational and financial impact because of the country’s extensive international flight network that frequently relies on Pakistani airspace.
