Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft until Sept 24

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using the country’s airspace until September 24, keeping in place a restriction introduced amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) on Wednesday confirming that Pakistani airspace would remain unavailable to Indian-registered aircraft as well as aircraft operated or leased by Indian airlines and operators.

The restriction also covers Indian military flights.

According to the notice, the extension takes effect from August 23 at 10:15am and will remain effective until 4:59am on September 24. The previous restriction had been scheduled to expire on August 23.

The ban applies across Pakistan’s two flight information regions, Karachi and Lahore. These regions manage and coordinate aircraft movements within their respective areas of responsibility.

The latest extension means Indian airlines will continue to be unable to use Pakistani airspace for flights that could otherwise benefit from shorter routes between India and destinations in Europe, the Middle East and beyond.

The measure dates back to April 2025, when relations between Pakistan and India deteriorated sharply following a deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

On April 24, 2025, Pakistan announced a series of retaliatory measures, including the closure of its airspace to Indian-owned and Indian-operated airlines. India had accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, an allegation Islamabad rejected.

Pakistan subsequently offered to support a neutral investigation into the incident while denying any involvement.

The airspace restrictions remained in place as tensions escalated further, with both countries taking increasingly serious measures against each other.

The confrontation reached its most dangerous point in May 2025, when Pakistan and India engaged in intense military hostilities, including aerial combat. Pakistan said it had shot down seven Indian fighter aircraft during the clashes, while India disputed Pakistan’s claims.

The two sides later stepped back from full-scale confrontation, but several restrictions linked to the crisis have remained.

For the aviation industry, the continued closure means Indian carriers must maintain alternative routes around Pakistani airspace, potentially increasing flight times, fuel consumption and operational costs.

Pakistan’s latest decision also signals that, despite a reduction in open hostilities, airspace restrictions remain tied to the broader state of relations between the two countries.

With the ban now extended into late September, airlines and passengers will continue to operate under the existing restrictions while Islamabad and New Delhi navigate a fragile and still unsettled relationship.