Indian Airlines and Military Aircraft Barred From Pakistani Airspace
Pakistan has extended its airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft for another month, keeping the ban in place until September 24, 2026.
The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen confirming the extension. Similar restrictions have remained in force through repeated extensions during 2026.
The previous restriction was scheduled to expire on August 23.
Under the latest notice, Pakistani airspace remains unavailable to aircraft registered in India.
The restriction also covers aircraft operated, owned or leased by Indian airlines and operators.
Indian military flights are included in the ban as well.
The extended restrictions came into effect on August 23 at 10:15am and are scheduled to remain in force until 4:59am on September 24.
The measure applies across Pakistan’s two main flight information regions covering Karachi and Lahore.
This means affected Indian aircraft cannot use Pakistani airspace for routes that would normally cross either region.
The continuing restrictions are particularly important for Indian airlines operating westbound international services because avoiding Pakistani airspace can result in longer routes.
Previous reports have highlighted the operational impact of Pakistan’s airspace closure on Indian long-haul services.
Airspace Restrictions Continue More Than a Year After Relations Deteriorated
Pakistan and India imposed reciprocal airspace restrictions in April 2025 amid a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
Pakistan announced the closure of its airspace to Indian-owned and Indian-operated airlines on April 24, 2025.
Since then, Islamabad has repeatedly extended the restrictions rather than allowing them to expire.
For example, Pakistan extended the ban until July 23 in June 2025 and continued announcing further extensions during 2026.
The restrictions followed heightened tensions after a deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir.
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, while Islamabad strongly rejected the allegation.
Pakistan also called for an independent and neutral investigation into the incident.
The diplomatic crisis subsequently developed into a wider confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Airspace restrictions became one of several measures imposed during the period of heightened tensions.
Since then, both countries have continued preventing each other’s airlines from using their respective airspace.
Latest Extension Keeps Regional Aviation Disruption in Place
The latest decision means the aviation restrictions will continue well into September.
For Indian carriers, the closure can require alternative flight paths on some international routes.
Longer routes can increase flying time, fuel consumption and operational costs.
Airspace restrictions can also affect flight planning and scheduling, particularly for services travelling between India and destinations in Europe, North America and the Middle East.
Pakistan’s repeated extensions indicate that there has yet to be a breakthrough allowing normal aviation access to resume.
The Pakistan Airports Authority has not announced any exemption that would generally reopen the affected flight information regions to Indian commercial or military aircraft.
Unless authorities issue another notice or reverse the measure earlier, the current restriction will remain effective until September 24.
The decision keeps one of the most visible consequences of continuing Pakistan-India tensions firmly in place.
