Pakistan has extended by one month the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a new NOTAM on September 16 keeping the restriction in force until October 23, 2026.
A targeted restriction, not a full closure
The measure applies to India-registered aircraft and to aircraft operated, owned or leased by Indian airlines and operators, including military flights. Pakistan’s airspace remains open to other traffic.
The new NOTAM extends a measure that had been due to expire on September 24. Restrictions have been in place since April 2025 and have been renewed repeatedly.
Longer routings for Indian carriers
The ban continues to force longer routings on some flights to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Central Asia. Flight-tracking data have shown Indian aircraft bypassing Pakistan via southern or alternative corridors.
Those detours increase flying time, fuel burn and crew costs, with particularly visible effects on long-haul services from northern India.
Why it matters
Even an extra 20 or 30 minutes on a flight can add significant fuel and crew costs. Across a network, those costs compound quickly and can also complicate connections, aircraft rotations and schedule recovery. The operational impact can also extend beyond carriers based in India or Pakistan when other airlines would normally use the affected airspace in transit.
What to watch
October 23 is an administrative deadline, not necessarily an end date. A meaningful change would likely depend on broader diplomatic easing between Islamabad and New Delhi.
Sources
Pakistan Airports Authority NOTAM, September 16, 2026; The Express Tribune; Geo News; Flightradar24.
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