By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until October 24, the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) said, marking the fifth extension of a restriction first imposed in April amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The decision follows a series of diplomatic and military frictions, including a deadly attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April, which New Delhi accused Islamabad of orchestrating without evidence. Pakistan strongly denied the allegations and called for a neutral probe. As the situation turned into a military confrontation between the nuclear powers, it took American intervention for both sides to agree to a ceasefire.
On April 24, Pakistan’s top brass announced a series of measures, including the closure of its airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines with immediate effect, as it retaliated against New Delhi’s slew of aggressive measures against the country.
PAA spokesperson Saifullah Khan confirmed that the airspace closure for Indian aircraft had been extended till October 24. “Pakistan’s airspace will remain closed to Indian registered aircraft. This ban applies to all aircraft owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines or operators. This includes military flights,” the statement by the PAA spokesperson said. “The ban will come into effect from 1:00 PM (PKT) on 19 September 2025 and will end at 4:59 AM (PKT) on October 24 2025 (end time is approximate). The ban will be effective from ground level to unlimited altitude.”
Last month, the government extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft for another month, until September 25, according to a NOTAM issued on August 22. The ban has forced Indian airlines to reroute flights, increasing fuel consumption, travel times and operating costs. Air India, which operates numerous flights to Europe and North America, estimated in May the airspace ban could lead to about $600 million in additional expenses over the course of a year and requested compensation from the Indian government.
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