Pakistan Again Extends Airspace Ban on India
Islamabad prolongs airspace closure for Indian civilian and military flights amid sustained diplomatic strain.
- Publish date: since 15 hour Reading time: 1 min read
Pakistan has once again extended its ban on aircraft registered in India from using Pakistani airspace, keeping the longstanding restriction in place until 23 March 2026, aviation authorities said on 19 February 2026.
Under a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), all Indian-registered civilian and military aircraft will continue to be barred from transiting through Pakistan’s airspace for another month. The closure applies to both commercial passenger jets and private or military flights, officials confirmed.
The ban was first introduced on 23 April 2025 amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours and has since been extended multiple times. Pakistan’s decision followed a breakdown in relations after New Delhi suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a key bilateral agreement, and a series of military and diplomatic confrontations in the region.
India responded earlier by similarly closing its airspace to Pakistani carriers, including commercial and military flights, reflecting a reciprocal pattern of restrictions that has now lasted for nearly ten months.
The prolonged airspace ban has forced Indian airlines to reroute flights around Pakistan, adding high operational costs, longer flight times and logistical challenges, particularly on routes between northern India and destinations in West Asia and Europe.
Officials on both sides have tied the closures to ongoing bilateral tensions, with no immediate signs of de-escalation in the aviation standoff. The latest extension underscores the deep challenges in India-Pakistan relations and the broader impact of political disputes on regional connectivity and civil aviation operations.