Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on India Through September

Pakistan has prolonged its airspace ban for Indian aircraft, extending the closure until September 23. This restriction, which has been in effect since April 2025, continues to impose significant cost pressures on Indian airlines. Carriers are compelled to operate longer and more expensive routes to destinations in Europe, North America, and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistani airspace. The Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to communicate the extension. This measure originally stemmed from diplomatic and security actions taken by India against Islamabad following the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, an event to which New Delhi attributed groups linked to Pakistan. Islamabad has consistently denied any involvement. The airspace closure became one of Pakistan's initial retaliatory steps before direct military escalation between the two nations in May 2025. Since then, both India and Pakistan have kept their respective airspaces closed to each other's airlines. For Indian airlines, Pakistan's airspace represents a crucial and direct westward corridor from New Delhi and other northern airports. Air India had previously estimated that the prolonged closure could incur additional costs of approximately $600 million if it lasted for a full year.