Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft by another month

Pakistan on Monday extended the closure of its airspace for Indian-registered aircraft and those operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights, for another month, amid continued tensions between the two neighbours.

Pakistan Airports Authority issued NOTAM extending airspace ban until July 23, 2025. In May, Islamabad had announced airspace closure till June 24.

The ban was initially imposed last month following India’s actions in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, including security personnel and civilians. The extension comes under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines, which allow airspace restrictions only for one month at a time.


India responded to the Pahalgam attack with precision air strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes marked a sharp escalation in cross-border military activity.

Pakistan’s airspace restriction affects Indian commercial and military aircraft, forcing airlines to reroute flights operating to the Middle East, Europe, and North America. These longer flight paths lead to higher fuel consumption and extended travel times.

This is not the first time Pakistan has closed its airspace to India. Similar restrictions were imposed during the 1999 Kargil conflict and again in 2019 following the Pulwama terror attack.