ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft for another month, until Nov 24, according to a Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA).
The previous extension of the ban was set to expire on Oct 24.
“Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights,” the Notam said.
According to the notice, the extension came into effect at 7.45pm on Saturday and will remain in force until 4.59am on Nov 24, 2026.
The country’s airspace is divided into two flight information regions (FIRs) — Karachi and Lahore, according to a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) document from 2022.
Saturday’s Notam applies to both the Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) FIRs.
India and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines in late April 2025, when tensions between them escalated in the wake of a deadly attack in India-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
On April 24, Pakistan’s top brass announced a series of measures, including the immediate closure of its airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines, in retaliation for New Delhi’s series of aggressive measures against the country.
New Delhi, without evidence, alleged that Islamabad backed the Pahalgam attack. However, Pakistan strongly denied any involvement and offered a neutral probe. The nuclear powers engaged in their fiercest air battle in May, during which Pakistan said it had downed seven Indian fighter jets.
Since then, Pakistan has extended the airspace ban several times, forcing Indian carriers to use longer and more costly routes.
For Air India, the country’s only carrier with a major international network, fuel costs rose by as much as 29 per cent and journey times by up to three hours on some long-haul routes, according to a document submitted to Indian officials last October.
The airline, owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, estimated that the closure of Pakistani airspace would affect its profit before tax by US$455 million annually — a significant amount given that its loss for the 2024-25 financial year stood at US$439 million. - The Dawn/ANN
