Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian flights till May 24

Islamabad: Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace for another month, continuing restrictions that have been in place since April 24, 2025.

The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) stating that all Indian-registered, leased, commercial, and military aircraft will remain barred from Pakistani airspace until 5 am on May 24, 2026. The new notice comes just days before the previous restriction was set to expire on April 24.

Pakistan had initially shut its airspace to Indian flights following heightened tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, an incident for which New Delhi blamed Islamabad. Pakistan rejected the allegations and called for a transparent investigation into the attack.

In retaliation, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines. This marks the first time Pakistan has imposed such prolonged airspace restrictions on India.

The continued ban has significantly impacted Indian commercial airlines, which previously relied on Pakistani airspace for operating several routes, particularly flights connecting Indian cities with destinations in the Gulf region.

Airspace closures between the two countries have occurred in the past as well, notably during the Kargil conflict and the Pulwama crisis.

With PTI inputs