Pakistan’s airspace ban on India policy is set to cross the one-year mark after authorities extended restrictions on Indian aircraft for another month. Under a fresh Notice to Airmen, all Indian-registered, leased, commercial and military aircraft will remain barred from Pakistani airspace until 5 a.m. on May 24, 2026.
Pakistan first closed its airspace to Indian flights on April 24, 2025, and the restriction has remained in place ever since. The latest extension means the curbs will now continue for more than one full year.
The move came after rising tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Islamabad, while Pakistan rejected the allegations and called for a transparent inquiry. Pakistan says its airspace closure followed India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. India later responded by shutting its own airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025.
Indian airlines have suffered losses of billions of rupees because they can no longer use Pakistani airspace for key westbound routes. Flights to Europe, the Middle East and North America have faced longer travel times, higher fuel use, and operational disruptions.
By contrast, the impact on Pakistani aviation has remained minimal. Pakistan’s route structure and geography make the country less dependent on Indian airspace for major international operations. The disruption has also extended beyond the two countries. International carriers flying between Southeast Asia and Europe have continued to reroute around the restricted zone, putting additional pressure on alternative air corridors.
Although the military conflict ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10, 2025, aviation restrictions have remained in place. The ban forms part of an ongoing tit-for-tat standoff, despite nearly a year of relative calm.
The article also notes that Pakistan has used airspace restrictions during past crises. It imposed similar closures during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, with India again facing the greater aviation disruption.
The latest extension suggests there is still no immediate prospect of normal civil aviation ties between the two neighbours.
