Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircrafts to March 23

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace by another month, until March 23. 

In a fresh NOTAM issued by the PAA, all aircraft registered in India, including civil, military and private jets, are barred from transiting through Pakistani airspace till March 23. The restriction covers both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions. 

Pakistan initially closed its airspace to Indian aircraft on April 23, 2025, after the deadly Pahalgam attack. India accused Pakistan of backing the attack, an allegation Pakistan clearly denied while offering a neutral investigation. 

The airspace closure was part of a broader deterioration in India-Pakistan relation; India also shut its skies to Pakistani aircrafts in April 2025 in response to Pakistan’s initial move. 

The prolonged ban, now nearing 10 months, has forced Indian airlines to reroute flights around Pakistan, adding time and fuel costs to journeys to Europe and beyond. Some aircrafts have reportedly lobbied the Indian government to secure alternative corridors, including sensitive airspace over China’s Xinjiang region, to shorten routes. 

Pakistani officials say the airspace ban extension reflects continuing security concerns and the absence of substantive progress in easing tensions between India and Pakistan.