As diplomatic tensions intensify between Pakistan and India in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam attack, Islamabad has officially closed its airspace to Indian-owned and operated airlines, creating significant disruptions to international flight routes and imposing heavy costs on Indian carriers, aviation sources confirmed Friday.
The airspace restriction, which came into effect at 6 PM on Thursday, has already impacted numerous long-haul flights to and from India. Aviation insiders report that a Sharjah-Amritsar flight had to reroute just before entering Pakistani airspace near Turbat. Similarly, an Indian flight traveling via the Gulf of Oman was forced to land in Ahmedabad for refuelling.
Affected carriers include major Indian airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, with flights originating from cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Goa.
Each affected flight is expected to experience up to two hours of additional travel time, driving up operational costs and severely disrupting schedules, especially for routes connecting India with Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
The duration of the airspace closure remains uncertain, as diplomatic and military postures harden between the two nations.
Several other Indian airline flights have also been affected. Flight AI 190 from Toronto to India was diverted to Copenhagen to refuel, while another flight from Paris to Delhi landed in Abu Dhabi for the same reason. A London-India route (AI 162) also had to make a fuel stop in Abu Dhabi.
The move, part of a broader diplomatic and economic response from Islamabad, comes after India’s controversial decision to divert water flows from rivers that are governed by the Indus Waters Treaty — a pact Pakistan considers vital to its survival. In response, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) announced a full suspension of airspace access, trade, and transit with India, including through third countries.
“Pakistan’s airspace will be closed with immediate effect for all Indian-owned or operated airlines. All trade with India, including via third countries, is suspended with immediate effect,” read a government statement following the high-level NSC meeting.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) swiftly implemented the directive, issuing an official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) declaring that the airspace was off-limits to all aircraft registered, operated, or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights.
The NOTAM states the restrictions will remain in effect from 12:30 PM on April 24, 2025, to 11:59 PM on May 23, 2025, subject to further updates.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar stated that the decision would result in “millions of dollars in losses” for Indian airlines, citing growing economic pressure on New Delhi in light of Pakistan’s retaliatory actions.
According to aviation experts, the closure could cost Indian carriers as much as $500 million in just one month, due to increased fuel consumption, extended flight times, and costly diversions.
Aviation journalist Tahir Imran Mian noted that on the day the airspace was sealed, approximately 50 Indian flights were either in transit or scheduled to pass through Pakistani airspace. On average, 200 to 300 Indian flights use Pakistan’s airspace daily, with 70 to 80 round-trip international flights operating across Pakistani skies.
