The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) on Tuesday extended its ban on Indian aircraft using Pakistani airspace for another month, pushing the restriction until May 24, 2026, according to an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
The directive states that “Pakistani airspace will remain closed to Indian-registered aircraft, Indian airlines/operators, including military flights,” and will remain in effect until 4:59am on May 24, 2026. The restriction covers both major flight information regions (FIRs) — Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR).
This marks a continuation of airspace curbs that have been in place since late April 2025, when Pakistan initially closed its skies to Indian carriers following a sharp escalation in bilateral tensions.
The latest extension comes as the previous NOTAM was set to expire on April 24.
Pakistan and India have both restricted airspace access for each other’s airlines since tensions escalated after a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam region in April 2025. Pakistan rejected allegations of involvement and called for a neutral investigation.
Following the incident, Pakistan announced a series of countermeasures, including the closure of its airspace to Indian-owned and Indian-operated flights. The standoff later contributed to heightened military tensions between the two nuclear-armed states, including reported aerial engagements in May 2025.
The prolonged airspace closure continues to disrupt regional flight routes, forcing airlines to take longer detours and increasing operational costs.