Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft for another month, keeping the restrictions in place for nearly 10 months.
The Pakistan Airports Authority has issued a fresh Notice to Airmen confirming that the country’s airspace will remain closed to Indian-registered aircraft until March 23. Under the new notice, neither Indian military nor civil aircraft will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace during this period.
Pakistan initially closed its airspace to Indian airlines on April 23, 2025, in response to rising tensions between the two countries. The move came after New Delhi suspended the Indus Water Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to Pakistan’s decision, India also shut its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025. The situation further escalated on May 6 and 7, when India launched attacks on multiple Pakistani cities.
Pakistan’s armed forces responded with a large-scale retaliatory operation named “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” targeting several Indian military sites. According to official statements at the time, Pakistan downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, and multiple drones. After nearly 87 hours of tension, both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 through efforts brokered by the United States.
Officials have stated that while India’s aviation sector suffered significant financial losses due to rerouted flights and longer travel times, the impact on Pakistan’s aviation industry has remained limited.
This is not the first time Pakistan has imposed airspace restrictions during periods of tension. Similar closures were enforced during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, both of which caused greater disruption to Indian airlines compared to Pakistan.
