Ban extended till July 23: Airspace remains off-limits to all Indian aircraft

KARACHI: Pakistan has extended its airspace closure for Indian-registered aircraft till July 23, 2026.

A latest Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed that the ban will remain in force until an estimated 23:59 UTC on July 23, 2026. The restriction applies across the full vertical range of airspace, from ground level to unlimited altitude, and covers both of Pakistan’s flight information regions, including Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR).

Under the order, Pakistani airspace remains off-limits to all aircraft registered in India, as well as planes operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines or operators. The restriction explicitly extends to military flights.

The closure is the latest in a series of monthly extensions dating back to May 2025, when Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian aircraft amid a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries.

According to the beyondnewsreport, Indian airlines are directly and severely affected by airspace closure, not because of Pakistan, which reciprocally closed its airspace in response to the Indian government, leaving no option for Indian airlines but to absorb unprecedented financial shocks during the precise period when India’s aviation sector could have claimed its position as the world’s third-largest aviation market.

The prolonged restriction has forced Indian carriers onto longer detour routes often via the Arabian Sea or through northern corridors to reach destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, adding to flight times, fuel costs, and carbon emissions for affected airlines. Air India has formally disclosed losses of USD2.8 billion during the said period and has started suspending its direct operations to Western countries. The beyondnewsreport confirmed that Air India’s Delhi-Washington DC flight operation has been suspended completely to minimize the financial burden on the airline.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026