Pakistan Airports Authority has extended the closure of airspace for Indian flights and issued a new NOTAM.
According to the NOTAM, Indian commercial and military aircraft will not be allowed to use Pakistan’s airspace, and the restriction has been extended until May 23, 2026.
Officials said the NOTAM was issued ahead of the expiry of the previous closure, ensuring there is no gap in the restriction.
Background
The closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian aircraft began on April 23, 2025, amid a sharp rise in tensions between the two neighbours.
The move followed an attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed.
India strongly criticised Pakistan over the incident, while Islamabad denied involvement and called for a neutral investigation.
In the days after the airspace closure was first announced, India responded by banning Pakistani aircraft from its own airspace, triggering a tit-for-tat cycle of restrictions.
Both countries have repeatedly extended their bans month-by-month, in line with international aviation regulations that limit how long airspace can be closed without fresh notifications.
The ongoing restrictions have disrupted air travel between South Asia and destinations to the west, forcing airlines to reroute flights around the exclusion zone.
The longer routes add fuel costs and flight time for carriers, particularly those operating from northern Indian cities.
Pakistan’s aviation authority has said the ban applies from ground level up to unlimited altitude, covering all flight corridors over the country’s territory.
Airlines have been advised to take note of the NOTAM when filing flight plans.
Also read: Pakistan extends airspace closure for Indian flights by another month
