Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until December 24, issuing a fresh NOTAM just days before the previous restriction was set to expire. The latest notice took effect at 2:50pm on November 19 and will remain active until 4:59am on December 24. This ban applies to all Indian-registered aircraft and any plane operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines or operators, including military flights. The closure covers both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions and applies from ground level to unlimited altitude.
This airspace restriction has been in place since April, when tensions between the two countries escalated following the deadly attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad rejected the allegations and offered a neutral investigation, but relations deteriorated further as India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. In response, Pakistan imposed multiple countermeasures, including closing its airspace to Indian flights. The situation intensified in May when both countries engaged in their most severe military confrontation in decades, during which Pakistan claimed to have shot down seven Indian jets.
The ongoing airspace closure has caused significant financial strain for both sides. Air India, which operates many long-haul international flights, has faced major route deviations, resulting in fuel cost increases of up to 29 percent and extended flight times of up to three hours. Internal estimates shared with Indian officials show the airline could lose around $455 million annually due to the ban—an amount even larger than its reported loss for the 2024–25 financial year. Other Indian carriers, including IndiGo, continue to incur higher fuel expenses as they reroute flights around Pakistan’s airspace.
Pakistan is also bearing financial losses. The Pakistan Airports Authority recorded a revenue shortfall of Rs4.1 billion just two months after the initial closure for Indian aircraft. The continued ban underscores the deep diplomatic rift between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with no sign of immediate resolution. With the restriction now extended until late December, airlines and passengers are expected to face ongoing disruptions, longer travel times, and increased operational costs as the standoff persists.