Pakistan has decided to keep its airspace closed to all Indian aircraft for a longer period. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen on Wednesday confirming that the ban will now remain in place until September 24.
The previous restriction was set to end on August 23. The new order takes effect from 10:15 am on August 23 and will continue until 4:59 am on September 24. According to the official notice, Pakistan airspace will stay unavailable for any Indian-registered aircraft as well as planes operated or leased by Indian airlines and operators. This includes military flights as well.
The ban covers both of the country’s main flight information regions, the Karachi FIR and the Lahore FIR. These regions together form the complete airspace of Pakistan that Indian aircraft cannot enter under the current rules.
This measure is not new. India and Pakistan first closed their skies to each other’s airlines in late April 2025. The decision followed rising tensions after a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam area. At that time Pakistan’s leadership announced several steps in response to actions taken by New Delhi. One of those steps was the immediate closure of Pakistani airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines.
Since the initial ban, Pakistan has extended the restriction multiple times. The latest extension continues this pattern. Indian authorities had claimed without clear evidence that Pakistan was involved in the Pahalgam incident. Pakistan firmly rejected the accusation and offered a neutral investigation into the matter.
The two nuclear-armed neighbours later experienced intense aerial confrontation in May. Pakistan stated that its forces had successfully shot down seven Indian fighter jets during that period. The airspace closure remains one of the lasting effects of those heightened tensions.
Airlines and operators on both sides have had to adjust flight routes and schedules because of the ongoing restriction. Passengers travelling between the two countries or using connecting flights that once crossed this airspace continue to face longer journey times and higher costs. Aviation authorities in Pakistan have made it clear that the ban will stay active until the new deadline unless a further decision is announced.
