Pakistan has extended its closure of airspace to Indian aircraft until September 24, 2026, according to the country's airports authority. The decision comes ahead of the expiry of the previous restriction on August 23, 2026. As per the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority, the extension will take effect from 10:15 am on August 23 and will remain in force until 4:59 am on September 24. The restriction applies to all Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights. According to the latest NOTAM, the ban covers all aircraft registered in India, Indian airlines, aircraft leased by India and commercial and military aircraft owned or operated by Indian nationals. This marks the 16th NOTAM issued to extend the restriction since the initial ban was imposed in April 2025, with the ban having been extended monthly since last year.
As per a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) document from 2022, Pakistan's airspace is divided into two flight information regions (FIRs) - Karachi and Lahore. The NOTAM applies to both the Karachi and Lahore FIRs, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Pakistan's airspace. The prolonged closure has affected international flight operations, with Indian carriers required to plan alternative routes for flights that would otherwise use Pakistani airspace. The restrictions have also resulted in longer flight times, increased fuel consumption and higher operational costs for airlines. Carriers have had to make adjustments to their flight routes and schedules to avoid the restricted airspace. The airspace closure was initially imposed on April 23, 2025, and the latest notification marks the 16th extension since then, causing financial problems for airlines and extended travel time for passengers.
India has also maintained a reciprocal airspace ban on all Pakistani-registered aircraft, airlines, and military flights as part of measures taken against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people last year. Both countries imposed matching airspace restrictions on each other's airlines after the attack. The confrontation escalated when India launched strikes on several Pakistani cities on May 6 and 7, 2025, with Pakistan responding through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting multiple Indian military installations. The matching airspace restrictions on each other's airlines were imposed after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025.
During the confrontation, Pakistan shot down eight Indian fighter aircraft, including three Rafale jets, along with dozens of drones. The hostilities lasted nearly 87 hours before both nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10, 2025. India had initially suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), with India accusing Pakistan of involvement in the attack, an allegation Islamabad has firmly denied while calling for an independent and transparent investigation. The airspace restrictions have had a far greater financial impact on India's aviation sector, while Pakistan's aviation industry has experienced comparatively limited disruption.
