Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft until November 24, 2026

Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on Indian-registered aircraft and planes owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines for another month, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The restriction, which also covers Indian military flights, will remain in force until 4.59 am local time on November 24, 2026, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority.

The ban was first imposed on April 23, 2025, and has since been extended periodically amid strained relations between India and Pakistan.

The Pakistan Airports Authority announced the latest extension in a post on X on Saturday. A spokesperson for the authority said a fresh formal aviation notice had been issued to extend the restriction, Geo News reported.

Pakistan's airspace is divided into the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions, according to a 2022 document from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. The latest notice applies to both regions, PTI reported.

India and Pakistan imposed reciprocal airspace restrictions on each other's aircraft after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in April 2025. India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a claim Islamabad denied. The attack was followed by a sharp rise in diplomatic and military tensions between the two countries.

India closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025, in response to Pakistan's move. Pakistan had also restricted its airspace to Indian aircraft during earlier periods of heightened tensions, including the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, according to Geo News.

The continuing reciprocal restrictions have affected airline operations, forcing carriers to use longer routes for some international flights. Pakistan's latest extension will keep its airspace closed to the specified Indian civilian and military aircraft until November 24, 2026.

With PTI Inputs

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