Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft until October 24
New Delhi faces longer, costlier flight routes due to airspace closure
Islamabad: Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until October 24, 2026. The previous extension was set to expire on September 24.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said, “Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights.”
The extension came into effect at 10:45am on Wednesday and will remain until 04:59am on Oct 24, 2026, as per the Notam.
India and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines in late April 2025, after tensions escalated following the Pahalgam attack in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
On April 24, Pakistan’s top military and civilian leadership announced a series of measures, including the immediate closure of country’s airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines, in response to a series of measures by New Delhi.
New Delhi alleged, without providing evidence, that Islamabad backed the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan strongly denied any involvement and offered a neutral probe. In May 2025, the two nuclear-armed countries engaged in their most serious military confrontation in decades, including aerial combat in which Pakistan downed seven Indian fighter jets.
Since then, Pakistan has extended the airspace ban several times, forcing Indian carriers to use longer and costlier routes.
Air India fuel costs rose by as much as 29 per cent and journey times increased by up to three hours on some long-haul routes, according to a document submitted to Indian officials last October.
