Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Flights Till September 24
Pakistan on Wednesday extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft until September 24, according to a notice issued by the country's airports authority. The extension, announced through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), applies to both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions (FIRs) that make up Pakistan's airspace.
The NOTAM states that "Pakistan airspace is not available for Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights." The new restriction will come into effect at 10:15 a.m. on August 23 and remain in force until 4:59 a.m. on September 24, just ahead of the expiry of the previous ban on August 23.
The restrictions trace back to the attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, which killed 26 people. In the wake of the incident, both India and Pakistan imposed matching airspace closures on each other's airlines. India has also maintained a reciprocal ban on all Pakistani-registered aircraft, airlines, and military flights.
Since then, Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on a monthly basis, causing financial difficulties for airlines and longer travel times for passengers. Similarly, the Indian ban has remained in force, affecting carriers from both countries that previously operated routes through each other's airspace.
The repeated extensions have forced airlines to reroute flights, adding hours to journey times and increasing fuel costs. Passengers travelling between India and Pakistan, as well as to destinations in West Asia and Europe, have been particularly affected.
The NOTAM applies to the Karachi and Lahore FIRs, which together cover the entire airspace under Pakistan's control. This means no Indian civilian or military aircraft can enter or transit through Pakistan's airspace during the specified period.
The decision reflects the continued strain in bilateral relations following the Pahalgam incident. Aviation experts note that the prolonged closure has regional implications, as airspace restrictions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours force international airlines to take longer routes.
As of now, there is no indication when the restrictions might be lifted. Both countries have kept the doors open for dialogue, but no concrete talks on normalising aviation relations have been announced. The latest extension is seen as a continuation of the status quo, affecting not just the two nations but also global air travel patterns.
