Pakistan extends airspace closure for Indian airlines, aircraft by a month, issues fresh NOTAM
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India extends airspace closure for Pak flights in tit-for-tat move after Islamabad’s action
Pakistan on Friday extended the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft and aircraft operated by Indian airlines and operators by a month. India also issued a new NOTAM extending the ban on Pakistani aircraft and airlines in its airspace. Around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being impacted by longer durations, increased fuel burn, and a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling. Indian airlines’ flights from North India to West Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the UK, and North America’s eastern region are getting impacted by the closure. The closure is estimated to cost the Indian airline industry around $600 million on an annualised basis on a regular basis. The last time Pakistan closed its airspace was in 2019 following the Balakot airstrikes by the Indian Air Force. Some of Air India’s flights to and from North America have had to take technical halts at European airports like Copenhagen and Vienna, breaking the journey of otherwise non-stop flights. The Indian government is understood to have informed the Pakistani government that the Tata group is now a Tata entity.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, as diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated, Pakistan on April 24 shut its airspace to Indian aircraft and Indian airlines for at least a month, banning them from overflying its airspace. On April 30, India, too, closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and airlines.
Both those earlier NOTAMs were set to expire on Saturday (May 24) at 5:29 am India time. On Friday (May 23), the respective aviation authorities of two countries issued new NOTAMs that were similar to the previous notices, except for the effective duration of airspace closure. Both countries will keep their airspaces closed to one another’s airlines and aircraft, including military flight, till 5:29 am India time on June 24.
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With Pakistani airspace not available to them, around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being impacted by longer durations, increased fuel burn, and a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling, all of which are increasing operational costs for the carriers. Indian airlines’ flights from North India to West Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the UK, and North America’s eastern region switching from their routine paths to longer routes, adding anywhere between 15 minutes to a few hours to the journey, depending on the distance and the location of the destination.
All major Indian airlines operate international flights to destinations to the west of the country, and many of these flights were routinely overflying Pakistan. Air India operates flights to West Asia, Europe, the UK, and North America. IndiGo operated flights to West Asia, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, but had to suspend flights to the Central Asian cities of Almaty and Tashkent as they are now outside the operational range of its existing fleet of narrow-body aircraft. Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet’s west-bound international flights are to destinations in West Asia.
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According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, currently there are almost 400 weekly westward international departures from North Indian airports—Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, and Lucknow—that were routinely flying over Pakistan. Given that all these flights have return legs, the total number of affected flights goes up to around 800 from these airports. Of these, around 640 flights are from or to India’s largest airport—Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport—which is likely to be the most affected due to the move by Pakistan. Additionally, a handful of ultra-long-haul flights from other Indian cities like Mumbai are also getting impacted as their flight paths used to go through the Pakistani airspace.
For Pakistan, the impact of India’s airspace closure has not been as significant because, unlike India’s booming aviation sector, Pakistan’s struggling flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has a limited international footprint, and that too largely to the west of the country. According to airline schedule data from Cirium, PIA operates just six flights a week—to and from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, from Lahore and Islamabad—that were routinely flying over India.
Flight tracking data shows that some of Air India’s ultra-long-haul flights to and from North America have had to take technical halts—planned stops for refueling or crew change—at European airports like Copenhagen and Vienna, breaking the journey of the otherwise non-stop flights. The last time when Pakistan closed its airspace for an extended period—in 2019 following the Balakot airstrikes by the Indian Air Force—some of Air India’s flights to North America had to take technical halts midway on a regular basis.
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When Pakistan closed its airspace for over four months in 2019, Indian airlines are estimated to have lost around Rs 700 crore due to higher fuel expenses and operational complications that came with longer routes many of their flights were forced to take. Air India was the worst affected Indian carrier at the time, as it operated more west-bound international flights than other airlines.
Moreover, it was and continues to be the only Indian airline that operates long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights to Europe and North America. Air India, now a Tata group entity, is understood to have informed the government that the Pakistani airspace closure is estimated to cost the airline around $600 million on an annualised basis.
Over the past few years, other Indian airlines—particularly IndiGo—have also expanded their international networks to include various destinations that can be served by their existing fleets that mainly comprises narrow-body jets. IndiGo is the only Indian airline that was flying to destinations in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey.
India Extends Airspace Closure For Pak Airlines Till June 23
India on Friday extended the closure of its airspace for flights operated by Pakistan airlines by another month till June 23, according to sources. The ban imposed on April 30 as part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan was set to expire on May 23 (Saturday) The Indian airspace will not be available for aircraft registered in Pakistan as well as for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan Airlines and operators.
The ban imposed on April 30 as part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people was set to expire on May 23 (Saturday).
Delhi: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu says, “Further, as we move forward, we are going to take guidance from the security agencies in this regard. This is not just a decision that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is making single-handedly. This concerns the… pic.twitter.com/Pxl2WYEHf5 — IANS (@ians_india) May 23, 2025
The Indian airspace will not be available for aircraft registered in Pakistan as well as for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators till June 23, 2025, according to the fresh NOTAM issued on Friday.
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As per the NOTAM, the ban will also be applicable to Pakistan’s military aircraft.
Pakistan has also extended the ban on its airspace for Indian flights by a month till June 24.
On April 24, Pakistan banned its airspace for India until May 23, after the Indian government suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.
On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the massacre.
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In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan extends airspace closure on Indian flights until June 24, issues fresh NOTAM
India and Pakistan have both extended their mutual airspace bans, preventing each other’s airlines from operating within their respective territories. Indian aircraft registered in Pakistan, including those owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators, are barred from entering Indian airspace until June 23. Pakistan extended the ban on its airspace for Indian aircraft and carriers for an additional month, the ban will now end in the early morning of June 24. The initial restriction, put into effect on April 24 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack and deteriorating diplomatic relations, had restricted Indian planes and operators from utilizing Pakistani airspace. In a reciprocal action, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and airlines on April 30. No passengers were injured during the incident and that the aircraft’s “nose radome” suffered damage.
As per a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) released by India’s Civil Aviation ministry on Friday, aircraft registered in Pakistan—including those owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators — are barred from entering Indian airspace until June 23. The restriction also applies to Pakistani military aircraft, the notice stated.
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India extends NOTAM for Pakistan flights for one month; to be in effect till 23rd June, 2025.
Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated/owned or leased by Pakistani airlines/operators, including military flights: Ministry of Civil… pic.twitter.com/b0pF3W5P7S — ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025
Around an hour back, Pakistan extended the ban on its airspace for Indian aircraft and carriers for an additional month. The ban will now end in the early morning of June 24.
This information was officially confirmed through a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistan’s aviation authorities on Friday. The initial restriction, put into effect on April 24 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack and deteriorating diplomatic relations, had restricted Indian aircraft and operators from utilizing Pakistani airspace.
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Originally set to expire at 5:29 am IST on May 24, a revised NOTAM with the same terms was issued on May 23, extending the restriction until 5:29 am IST on June 24. In a reciprocal action, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and airlines on April 30.
Earlier in the day, Indian aviation regulatory authority DGCA stated that during an IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Srinagar on Wednesday, the flight crew had requested permission to enter Pakistani airspace in order to avoid turbulence. However, their request was denied.
In a detailed statement released by DGCA, it was confirmed that no passengers were injured during the incident and that the aircraft’s “nose radome” suffered damage.
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DGCA is currently investigating the incident of turbulence encountered by the aircraft.
On Wednesday, IndiGo’s A321 neo aircraft operating flight 6E 2142 experienced hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot.
According to the crew’s report, they sought approval from Northern control (IAF) to deviate left towards the International Border due to adverse weather conditions along their route, but their request was declined.
Subsequently, the crew contacted Lahore to request permission to enter Pakistani airspace to avoid the weather, but this request was also rejected, as stated by DGCA.
As per the regulator’s report, the crew made an initial attempt to return, but ultimately decided to proceed through the thunderstorm cloud when they were near it. This decision led them into a hailstorm and severe turbulence. The crew opted to maintain their course towards Srinagar in order to exit the adverse weather conditions quickly. According to a report by PTI on Thursday, the Lahore ATC denied the flight pilot’s request to use Pakistani airspace in order to avoid turbulence.
Around 800 flights a week of Indian airlines are being impacted by longer flight times, increased fuel burn, and a few other complexities related to crew and flight scheduling, all of which are increasing operational costs for the carriers.
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As per reports, in 2019, the closure of Pakistan’s airspace for more than four months resulted in significant financial losses for Indian airlines, amounting to an estimated Rs 700 crore. The increased fuel expenses and operational challenges caused by longer flight routes led to these losses. Among Indian carriers, Air India suffered the most, as it operated a higher number of west-bound international flights compared to its competitors.
India extends airspace ban for Pak airlines till Jun 23
India extends airspace ban for Pak airlines till Jun 23 (Saturday) The ban imposed on April 30 as part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan was set to expire on May 23. The Indian airspace will not be available for aircraft registered in Pakistan as well as for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) India on Friday extended the closure of its airspace for flights operated by Pakistan airlines by another month till June 23, according to sources.
The ban imposed on April 30 as part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people was set to expire on May 23 (Saturday).
The Indian airspace will not be available for aircraft registered in Pakistan as well as for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators till June 23, 2025, according to the fresh NOTAM issued on Friday.
As per the NOTAM, the ban will also be applicable to Pakistan’s military aircraft.
Pakistan has also extended the ban on its airspace for Indian flights by a month till June 24.
On April 24, Pakistan banned its airspace for India until May 23, after the Indian government suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.
On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, India announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the massacre.
In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries.
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Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/business/aviation/india-pakistan-tensions-airspace-closure-indian-aircraft-extended-10024426/