Web Desk: Indian aviation operators will continue to face the impact of Pakistan’s airspace restrictions after Islamabad extended its ban on Indian-registered aircraft until Oct. 23, the Pakistan Airports Authority said on Wednesday.
The authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen, known as a NOTAM, extending the existing restrictions for another month following directions from the Pakistani government.
The measure prevents Indian-registered civil and military aircraft from entering or transiting through Pakistani airspace.
The latest order applies not only to aircraft directly owned by Indian airlines but also to planes operated under lease arrangements by Indian-registered carriers.
As a result, affected airlines must continue to use alternative flight paths around Pakistani airspace, potentially adding distance, fuel consumption and operating costs to some international routes.
Pakistan has renewed the restrictions several times since imposing them in 2025.
Pakistan introduced the airspace restrictions after relations between Islamabad and New Delhi deteriorated following the April 2025 attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.
India blamed Pakistan for the attack, while Islamabad rejected the allegation and called for an impartial investigation.
The incident triggered a series of diplomatic and economic measures between the two countries. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, restricted visas for Pakistani citizens and closed the main land crossing between the two countries.
Tensions escalated further in May 2025, when India and Pakistan carried out military strikes against targets on the other side.
Pakistan said its forces brought down several Indian fighter aircraft, while India conducted missile strikes against Pakistani military facilities. Pakistan subsequently launched a military operation targeting Indian military installations.
The confrontation ended with a ceasefire announced on May 10, 2025, following diplomatic efforts that included involvement by the United States.
Despite the ceasefire, aviation restrictions between the two countries have continued.
Pakistan’s latest decision keeps the ban on Indian-registered aircraft in force until Oct. 23, extending a measure that has added pressure to airlines operating routes affected by the closure.
The authorities could modify or withdraw the restrictions before the new deadline, but the latest NOTAM keeps the current prohibition in place for now.
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