Indian airlines face major disruptions as Islamabad responds to regional tensions
ISLAMABAD: In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan has announced a one-month closure of its airspace to Indian-registered aircraft, a move expected to cost Indian airlines millions of dollars in daily losses.
The decision, outlined in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, takes immediate effect and will remain in force until May 23 at 12:00 AM, unless extended or amended. The airspace ban applies to all Indian civil and military aircraft, including those operated by Indian entities on leased aircraft.
The closure affects more than 100 Indian flights daily, including major carriers such as Air India, Indigo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and Aditya Jet, which frequently use Pakistani airspace for western-bound international routes. Aviation experts warn that rerouting these flights could add up to two hours of extra flight time, significantly increasing fuel costs and impacting scheduling.
According to industry insiders, a previous airspace closure in 2019 cost Indian airlines over $80 million in just a few days. Given the current closure’s longer duration, losses are expected to multiply, potentially running into hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of the month. Passengers are also likely to bear the brunt through higher ticket prices and longer travel times.
Security Tensions Behind the Move
The decision to close the airspace follows a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in the wake of rising tensions with India following the Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The NSC rejected India’s allegations against Pakistan and issued a stern warning regarding India’s reported move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a blatant violation of international law.
“Water is a vital national interest for Pakistan — a lifeline for our 240 million citizens,” the NSC said in an official statement. “Any attempt to block or divert Pakistan’s rightful water share under the Indus Waters Treaty will be treated as an act of war, and responded to with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.”
Bilateral Agreements in Jeopardy
In response to what it called India’s “reckless and irresponsible behaviour,” the NSC also hinted at reviewing or suspending all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Accord, until New Delhi ceases what Pakistan alleges is state-sponsored terrorism and violations of UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.
“The Government of Pakistan will no longer tolerate provocations disguised as diplomacy,” an NSC source stated, adding that Islamabad reserves the right to act unilaterally to protect its national interests.
What Comes Next
The airspace closure is just one of several retaliatory steps Pakistan is expected to take amid worsening diplomatic relations. With both countries pulling out diplomatic staff, suspending visa services, and now restricting airspace access, observers fear that the standoff could further destabilize regional peace.
Aviation analysts and foreign policy experts alike warn that unless cooler heads prevail, the impact could spill over into trade, travel, and global supply chains, particularly in aviation and logistics sectors heavily reliant on South Asian air corridors.
