Pakistan has decided to continue its ban on Indian civilian and military aircraft from flying through its airspace until 23 March 2026. The decision was announced in a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority.
The restriction was first introduced on 23 April 2025. After a routine security review, authorities decided to keep the ban in place. The rule applies to all Indian passenger planes as well as military aircraft. As a result, Indian airlines are still not allowed to use Pakistani airspace for their flights.
Because of this extended closure, Indian airlines have been forced to take longer alternative routes. These longer flight paths have significantly increased their operational costs. Airlines now have to spend much more on fuel, which has added billions of rupees to their overall expenses.
One of the most affected airlines is Air India. Reports indicate that the airline has seen fuel costs rise by as much as 29 percent on certain routes. In addition to higher fuel expenses, some flights have experienced delays of nearly three hours due to the longer travel distance.
The continued airspace ban has created financial and scheduling challenges for Indian carriers. Aviation experts say that unless the restriction is lifted, airlines may continue to face higher costs and longer flight times in the months ahead.
