Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft until 24 May 2026, marking the 13th consecutive month of reciprocal restrictions between the two countries. According to the latest Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistan's aviation authorities, the restriction will remain in effect from 21 April to 23 May, 11.59 p.m. (UTC), corresponding to 5.30 a.m. (IST) on 24 May. The closure, which began on 24 April 2025 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people, continues to significantly impact Indian aviation operations across multiple routes and carriers.
The extended airspace closure has created substantial operational challenges for major carriers like Air India, which operates extensive international routes from its Delhi hub. Around 800 weekly flights have been impacted due to the inability to use Pakistani airspace, with airlines required to take longer and more circuitous routes. Travel time has increased by 15 minutes to several hours depending on the route, leading to higher fuel consumption and operational complexities in crew scheduling. The restrictions have also necessitated refuelling stops or suspension of certain routes, with Air India having earlier estimated that the closure could result in an annualised impact of around ₹4,000 crore.
The airspace closure has particularly affected Air India's European and North American operations, with flights to Europe experiencing increased block times and misconnecting passengers. As reported by Mint, flights to North America, which were previously non-stop, can no longer maintain this service due to extended flying times. The airline has adapted by splitting operations between Mumbai and Delhi, with Mumbai serving as the larger hub, and has inducted six Dreamliner aircraft from European carrier Norse Atlantic to support these revised routings. The restrictions have also affected flights connecting northern India with destinations in West Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the United Kingdom and eastern North America.
The airspace closure has extended beyond international routes to impact domestic aviation as well. According to Mint, airlines had been anticipating a bumper summer season in North India with flights to Srinagar crossing 50 daily, representing the highest levels ever recorded. However, operations saw cancellations during Operation Sindoor and the elevated flight numbers have not been achieved even in the current year. This represents a significant decline from the optimistic projections made at the start of the previous financial year.
The aviation sector now faces additional pressures from the US-Iran conflict that began in late May, which has pushed oil prices to unprecedented levels. According to Mint, this conflict has created challenges unlike any other faced by the industry. Airlines report that it has become impossible to find sufficient passengers willing to pay fares sufficient to achieve breakeven operations, with profitability becoming an afterthought for most carriers. The combination of airspace restrictions, operational disruptions, and elevated fuel costs has created a perfect storm of challenges for Indian aviation operators, with the latest extension of restrictions until May 24 further compounding these operational and financial pressures.
