Pakistan has decided to continue its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until January 23, 2026, according to a statement from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). This means Indian planes will not be allowed to fly through Pakistan’s air routes for almost another year.
The ban applies to every type of aircraft registered in India. It includes commercial passenger flights, cargo planes, private jets, leased aircraft, and even military planes.
The restriction covers both the Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) flight information regions, which control major parts of Pakistan’s airspace. In simple terms, Indian aircraft cannot enter or pass over Pakistani air corridors managed by these two regions.
This airspace restriction is not new. It has been in place for some time and has now been officially extended. Flights coming from India or heading toward Indian destinations will need to continue using longer alternative routes.
This may increase travel time for certain airlines and passengers. It could also increase fuel costs for routes that would normally pass through Pakistani skies.
The Pakistan Airports Authority has not shared any detailed comments on the reasons behind this extension. However, such decisions are usually connected to diplomatic policies, regional tensions, or aviation security matters. Pakistan and India have experienced difficult relations for many years, and aviation measures are sometimes linked to political circumstances.
For now, airlines and aviation authorities will continue operating under the updated restrictions. If there are any changes in regional relations or negotiations between the two countries, the situation could be reviewed again in the future.
Until then, Indian aircraft remain barred from entering Pakistani airspace, and the extension of the ban shows that the current flight policy between the two neighbouring countries is unlikely to change soon.
