The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has issued a new Notice to Airmen (Notam) extending the closure of Pakistani airspace to all Indian-registered aircraft. This ban, which began on August 18, affects Indian airlines, aircraft leased by India, and both commercial and military planes owned or operated by Indian nationals. The restriction will remain effective until 4:59am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) on September 24.
Initially imposed on April 23, 2025, this latest notification marks the 16th extension of the airspace closure. Pakistan first barred Indian airlines from using its airspace after New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a claim Islamabad has strongly denied, calling instead for an independent and transparent investigation.
In retaliation to Pakistan’s airspace ban, India closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025. The situation escalated when India conducted strikes on multiple Pakistani cities on May 6 and 7. Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting several Indian military sites in a large-scale counterattack. During these hostilities, Pakistan shot down eight Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, as well as dozens of drones.
The conflict lasted nearly 87 hours before both nuclear-armed neighbors agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United States on May 10. The ongoing airspace restrictions have significantly impacted India’s aviation sector financially, while Pakistan’s aviation industry has faced relatively minor disruptions.
Historically, Pakistan has imposed similar airspace bans during periods of heightened tension, such as the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis. In those instances as well, Indian airlines experienced greater operational difficulties compared to Pakistani carriers.
