Pakistan has extended its airspace closure for all Indian-registered and Indian-operated aircraft, including military planes, for another month, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed on Friday.
A fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) maintains the ban on Indian commercial airlines, military flights, and other India-registered aircraft from entering Pakistani airspace. The restriction was first imposed after New Delhi suspended the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In retaliation, India blocked Pakistani airlines from its own skies on April 30, prompting Pakistan to extend its closure on May 23.
With the latest extension, Pakistan’s airspace has now remained closed to Indian aircraft for 210 consecutive days.
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The escalation followed India’s strikes on multiple Pakistani cities on May 6–7. Pakistan responded with “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting Indian military positions. According to officials, Pakistan downed six Indian fighter jets — including three Rafale aircraft — and dozens of drones during the 87-hour confrontation. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10 brought an end to the hostilities.
Officials noted that while Indian aviation has faced severe financial and logistical strain due to the closure, Pakistan’s aviation sector has experienced only minimal disruption.
Airspace restrictions have historically been used during periods of heightened tension. Similar bans were enforced during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, both of which caused heavy losses to Indian airlines.
