India extends ban on Pakistani aircraft till October 24

India has prolonged its restriction on Pakistani aircraft using its airspace until 5:29 a.m. on October 24.

The ban applies to all planes registered in Pakistan, including passenger, cargo, and military aircraft.

The closure was first imposed on April 30, soon after Islamabad shut its skies to Indian-owned and operated flights. That move affected between 100 and 150 planes, following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by terrorists.

India issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) to enforce the restriction, initially valid until May 23. Since then, the deadline has been extended at least three times.

In May, the Ministry of Civil Aviation set up a committee to study the financial impact of Pakistan’s ban on Indian carriers. The panel was tasked with suggesting relief measures for the aviation sector, which has been under financial stress. “The feedback received from the industry is currently being studied in detail, and based on this, specific relief measures will be announced,” sources had said. Airline representatives had also proposed measures such as tax exemptions and subsidies.

On the other hand, Pakistan has also suffered losses from its restrictions on Indian aircraft. According to figures presented in its National Assembly last month, the closure of airspace cost the country PKR 4.10 billion (around ₹127 crore) in just over two months.

With the latest extension, aircraft owned or operated by Pakistan will remain barred from Indian skies for at least another month.