Pahalgam Attack: India closes airspace to Pakistani airlines till May 23

In another move following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, India closed its airspace to aircraft registered in Pakistan and those operated by Pakistani airlines. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued on Wednesday confirmed that Indian airspace will remain shut for Pakistani aircrafts from May 1 to May 23.

PTI reported citing an official that the ban will be enforced from 12 am on Thursday.

ET had reported on Tuesday that India was considering the move after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers on April 24th in retaliation to New Delhi’s steps post-attack.


The decision, seen as part of a broader response to the attack, will impact flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which uses Indian airspace to access Kuala Lumpur for three flights a week. However, the move is seen as largely symbolic as the concerned flights from PIA have been avoiding the route through the Indian airspace since April 24th, two days after the attack.

Officials familiar with the matter had told ET that India is also considering a ban on Pakistani ships from calling at Indian ports, which could further strain bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, within 48 hours of the attack taking place, India initiated several diplomatic and economic countermeasures. Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Security suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 until Pakistan verifiably ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. In addition, India revoked visas issued to Pakistani citizens, shut down the Attari border crossing, and barred entry under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme.

Impact of Pakistan's move

When Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers, it caused widespread disruption across several major international routes. Flights connecting India to North America, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East have been most affected, with airlines forced to take longer detours over the Arabian Sea and southern Iran.

This has resulted in increased flight durations, higher fuel consumption, and potential delays or cancellations. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have already issued advisories, urging passengers to check schedules for updates.

Flights to North America, including Delhi–New York, Mumbai–Toronto, and Delhi–San Francisco, now face up to two-hour delays, with some requiring technical stops. European routes such as Delhi–London, Mumbai–Frankfurt, and Delhi–Paris are experiencing roughly one-hour increases in travel time.

Moreover, Central Asian routes have also been affected, with Delhi–Almaty flights canceled and Delhi–Tashkent rerouted, adding up to 90 minutes. Middle Eastern connections like Delhi–Dubai and Amritsar–Sharjah are seeing delays of up to 45 minutes.