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2mo ago

India Extends Ban on Pakistani Aircraft as Reciprocal Airspace Closures Enter Fifth Month

Imposed after the Pahalgam attack, the month-to-month reciprocal bans are driving longer routes that raise costs for Indian airlines.

This comes after Islamabad extended till September 24 the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft.
The ban is part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
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Overview

  • India issued a fresh NOTAM on August 22 extending its airspace closure to Pakistan-registered and military aircraft until 05:29 IST on September 24 (23:59 UTC on September 23).
  • Pakistan extended its own prohibition on Indian aircraft via a NOTAM on August 20 for the same period, keeping the mirror restrictions in place for a fifth consecutive month.
  • Cirium data indicate roughly 800 weekly flight legs by Indian carriers now require detours to West Asia, Europe and North America, increasing fuel burn and complicating crew scheduling.
  • Air India has told the government the detours could cost about $600 million on an annualised basis, and IndiGo has suspended Delhi–Almaty and Delhi–Tashkent due to range constraints.
  • The impact on Pakistan’s airlines is limited, with only about six weekly PIA flights typically overflying India, while third-country carriers can continue to use both countries’ airspace.