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Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian flights till March 23

Airspace closed to Indian aircraft since April 2025 after Pahalgam attack in IIOJK

Aftab Khan February 19, 2026 1 min read

An Air India passenger plane takes off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad January 30, 2013. REUTERS/Amit Dave/Files

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday has extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft for another month, with the restriction now remaining in force until March 23.

The PAA issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) following a government decision, confirming that the ban applies to all aircraft registered in India, including planes owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines as well as Indian military flights.

According to a 2022 document by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), Pakistan’s airspace is divided into two Flight Information Regions (FIRs) Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) — and the latest NOTAM covers both zones. The PAA issued a fresh NOTAM following a government decision.

The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) following a government decision.

Also Read: Pakistan maintains flights ban on India

Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian aircraft since April 2025, when tensions between the two countries sharply escalated after an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

New Delhi had alleged Islamabad’s involvement in the incident without presenting evidence. Pakistan rejected the accusation and offered to support a neutral investigation.

The situation further deteriorated in early May, when the two nuclear-armed neighbours engaged in their most intense military confrontation in decades. Pakistani officials said the country’s forces downed seven Indian jets during the conflict. Although a ceasefire was later brokered with US mediation, the airspace curbs have remained in place.

The continuing restriction has imposed significant operational costs on Indian airlines, forcing them to take longer routes to destinations in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

Industry estimates suggest the detours have increased fuel expenses by up to 29 per cent and added as much as three hours to some long-haul journeys. Air India has previously said the ban could reduce its annual pre-tax profit by about $455 million, prompting the carrier to seek temporary government support.