Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft for another month, keeping the restriction in place until January 24, 2026, according to a fresh notice to airmen issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority on Wednesday.
Under the new Notam, the ban will remain effective from December 16, 2025, to January 24, 2026, Pakistan Standard Time. The restriction applies to all Indian-owned, operated, and leased aircraft, including military flights.
The Pakistan Airports Authority said the latest decision continues the existing airspace restriction, which has been in force for the past eight months. With this extension, the total duration of Pakistan’s airspace closure for Indian aircraft has reached 210 days.
Pakistan initially closed its airspace to Indian airlines in a reciprocal move after New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty amid rising tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In response, India shut its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, while Pakistan extended its restriction on May 23 for an additional month.
Tensions escalated further on May 6 and 7, when India carried out what Pakistan described as unprovoked attacks on multiple Pakistani cities. Pakistan’s armed forces responded with a large-scale military operation, named Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting several Indian military installations across different regions.
During the confrontation, Pakistan said it downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with dozens of drones. After nearly 87 hours of hostilities, the conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours ended on May 10 following a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Despite prolonged airspace restrictions, Pakistan’s aviation sector has experienced minimal disruption, while India’s aviation industry has reportedly incurred significant operational and financial losses.
This is not the first time Pakistan has imposed airspace restrictions on India. Similar measures were taken during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, both of which resulted in greater aviation challenges for India than for Pakistan.
