Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on India-Bound Flights Until August 23

KARACHI: Pakistan has extended its airspace restrictions for Indian airlines by another month, with the ban now in place until August 23.

In a newly issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority reaffirmed the continued suspension of overflight and transit permissions for all Indian-registered aircraft. The directive strictly prohibits the use of Pakistani airspace for any operations by Indian carriers.

These restrictions were first implemented on April 23 and have been regularly renewed since. Authorities have stated that the ban will remain in effect until further notice, with no exemptions granted for any Indian-registered aircraft.

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Pakistan had initially closed its airspace for Indian airlines in a tit-for-tat move after New Delhi suspended the critical Indus Water Treaty amid heightened bilateral tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Following the Pahalgam attack, India launched strikes on Pakistan, resulting in the martyrdom of several Pakistanis. In retaliation, Pakistan responded with its own attacks on India, prompting US intervention and ultimately leading to a ceasefire.

After the ban, reports indicated that Indian airlines suffered losses worth millions of dollars due to additional fuel costs from forced stopovers on long-haul flights.