Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft until July 24

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has prolonged its restriction on Indian civilian and military aircraft for another month, with the latest Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) keeping the ban in place until July 24, 2026.

The earlier extension had been due to end on June 24. According to the Notam, the renewed restriction began at 5:50pm on June 16 and will remain effective until 4:59am on July 24. The ban covers Indian aircraft in both categories, civil and military.

The PAA said the restriction applies across both of Pakistan’s flight information regions, Karachi and Lahore. A 2022 Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority document states that the country’s airspace is divided into these two flight information regions. The current Notam covers the Karachi FIR, coded OPKR, and the Lahore FIR, coded OPLR.

In the Notam, the PAA stated: "Pakistan has extended the air ban on Indian-registered aircraft till the morning of July 24,"

The notice further said: "The ban on Indian aircraft (both civil and military) will remain in effect from 5:50pm on June 16 to 4:59am on July 24,"

Ban in place since April 2025

Pakistan and India have kept their airspace closed to each other’s airlines since late April 2025, when relations deteriorated after a deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

On April 24, Pakistan’s top military leadership announced a series of retaliatory steps, including the immediate closure of Pakistani airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines, in response to aggressive measures taken by New Delhi against Pakistan.

India had accused Pakistan of backing the Pahalgam attack, though no evidence was presented. Pakistan rejected the allegation and said it had no role in the incident, while also offering support for a neutral investigation.

The two nuclear-armed neighbours later engaged in what Pakistan described as their most intense aerial confrontation in May. Pakistan said it had shot down seven Indian fighter aircraft during that clash.

Since the initial closure, Pakistan has renewed the restriction multiple times, with the latest Notam extending the measure for another month.