Pakistani airspace to remain closed for Indian-registered aircraft

KARACHI: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has said that Pakistani airspace will continue to remain closed for Indian-registered aircraft.

In a statement, the airport authority said the restriction on Indian aircraft has been extended until 5:00 am on February 24, 2026 after which Pakistani airspace will remain closed to Indian-registered planes.

The statement said that the ban applies to aircraft owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights.

Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian aircraft since April 23, 2025.

The ban was announced on April 24 as both sides traded diplomatic tit for tat measures that spilled into a four-day military conflict.

Indian airlines are bracing for higher fuel costs and longer journey times after Pakistan shut its airspace to the country’s carriers in a tit-for-tat retaliation following an attack in Indian held Kashmir in April.

The armed conflict between India and Pakistan that erupted May 7 was the worst between the nuclear-armed neighbours in decades, with both sides trading drone and missile-strikes besides artillery and small arms fire along their shared border. It was triggered by a gruesome attack on civilians in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22. While a ceasefire was announced on May 10, Pakistan has extended the airspace ban for Indian airlines until June 24.

More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire until a ceasefire was announced on May 10.

Earlier, Air India on April 27 asked the Indian government for a “subsidy model” proportionate to the economic hit, estimating a loss of more than 50 billion Indian rupees ($591 million) for each year the ban lasts, according to a letter sent by the airline to the Civil Aviation Ministry seen by Reuters.

“Subsidy for affected international flights is a good, verifiable and fair option … the subsidy can be removed when the situation improves,” the letter said.