Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Flights till Sept 23

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday extended its airspace closure for Indian-registered and Indian-operated aircraft until September 23, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued to international aviation authorities and airlines.

The restrictions, first imposed on April 23 amid heightened military tensions, cover both commercial and military flights from India.

The ban was tightened after India launched missile strikes inside Pakistan in May, triggering strong condemnation from Islamabad and a retaliatory response under Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. Pakistan subsequently shut its airspace for 48 hours, suspending all commercial flights before reopening routes after a ceasefire agreement.

Read More

Gunmen kill 50 in attack on mosque, homes in Nigeria

However, the continuing restrictions have severely disrupted Indian carriers, forcing them to reroute flights to Europe, North America, West Asia and the Caucasus. The longer detours have added significant flying time, increased fuel costs, and created operational bottlenecks.

Air India’s CEO warned in May that annual losses could reach around $600 million if the ban persisted, while the airline has already sought government support through a subsidy scheme to offset the estimated 50 billion Indian rupees ($591m) annual hit.