Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft until Aug 23

• PAA issues fresh Notam prolonging restrictions on Indian civilian and military flights

• Ban applies to both Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian civilian and military aircraft from using its airspace for another month, with the restrictions now remaining in force until Aug 23, 2026, according to a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Saturday.

According to the Notam, the restriction will remain effective until 11:59pm on Aug 23, 2026, as the previous airspace closure was due to expire on July 24.

"Pakistan airspace not available for Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights," the Notam stated.

Pakistan's airspace is divided into two Flight Information Regions (FIRs) — Karachi and Lahore — according to a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) document issued in 2022. The latest Notam applies to both the Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) FIRs, keeping the restrictions in place across the country's entire controlled airspace.

India and Pakistan have kept their airspaces closed to each other's airlines since last April 2025, when bilateral tensions sharply escalated following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

New Delhi, without presenting evidence, alleged that Islamabad had backed the attack. Pakistan strongly rejected the allegation and called for a neutral and independent investigation into the incident.

The heightened tensions later culminated in the fiercest aerial confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May, during which Pakistan said it had shot down seven Indian fighter jets.

On April 24, 2025, Pakistan's top civil and military leadership announced a series of retaliatory measures, including the immediate closure of the country's airspace to all India-owned and Indian-operated airlines, in response to what Islamabad described as a series of aggressive measures taken by New Delhi.

Since then, Pakistan has repeatedly renewed the airspace restrictions through successive Notams, with the latest extension keeping the ban in effect until Aug 23, 2026.