Pakistan prolongs ban on Indian aircraft for another month

Pakistan has extended its airspace closure for Indian aircraft by an additional month, keeping the restrictions in place until March 23, according to a fresh notice issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority.

Under the new Notice to Airmen (Notam), all Indian-registered military and civilian aircraft will remain barred from transiting through Pakistani airspace. The restriction, first imposed on April 23, 2025, has now been in effect for nearly 10 months.

The move was originally taken in response to India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty amid heightened tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Days after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers, New Delhi imposed reciprocal restrictions on Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025. The situation escalated further on May 6-7, 2025, when India launched strikes on multiple Pakistani cities.

In retaliation, Pakistan’s armed forces initiated a large-scale military operation, codenamed Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting several Indian military sites across different regions.

Pakistan claimed it downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with dozens of drones. After nearly 87 hours of hostilities, both nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, brokered by the United States.

While India’s aviation sector reportedly absorbed significant losses due to rerouted flights and increased fuel costs, the impact on Pakistan’s aviation industry has been comparatively limited.

Pakistan has previously enforced similar airspace restrictions during periods of heightened conflict, including the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, episodes that also resulted in greater operational disruptions for Indian airlines than for Pakistan.