The government of Pakistan, in a move that must have significantly inconvenienced the Indian government, has decided to restrict the entire airspace of the country to all Indian-registered aircraft, including civilian and military jets, through a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which is an instruction issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). The ban will continue until February 24, 2026.
When and Why It Started
The airspace ban was initially introduced on April 24, 2025, due to a serious escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India. Since then, Pakistan has continued to extend the airspace ban every month, which signifies the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. Pakistan’s extension of airspace bans can be perceived as a step within a series of mutual agreements with respect to security concerns between the countries.
How the Ban Works
As per the NOTAM, any Indian-registered aircraft, be it owned, operated, or leased, is prohibited from entering, overflying, or transiting through Pakistani airspace. This is applicable for all civilian, military, or other types of aircraft. It applies to all controlled airspace in Pakistan till a certain date, unless an extension or re-evaluation takes place.
Impact of the Restriction
Continued airspace closure affects commercial aviation by forcing airlines to reroute flights around Pakistan, adding distances, fuel costs, and travel times for routes between India and destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. Both countries have maintained similar bans on each other’s airlines, underlining the broader diplomatic and aviation challenges arising from this prolonged standoff.
