ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian airlines and India-registered aircraft from using its airspace for another month, with restrictions now set to remain in place until April 24.

The decision was announced through a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority, confirming that the country’s airspace will continue to remain closed to Indian-registered aircraft.

Pakistan has maintained the restriction since April 23, 2025, resulting in significant financial losses for Indian airlines, reportedly amounting to billions of rupees.

The move came in response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following heightened tensions after the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Following Pakistan’s decision, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, escalating the standoff between the two countries.

Tensions further intensified on May 6-7, 2025, when India launched strikes on multiple Pakistani cities. In response, Pakistan carried out a large-scale retaliatory operation named “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” targeting several Indian military installations.

Read More: MQM-P demands restoration of Kamran Tessori as Sindh governor

According to official accounts, Pakistan downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with dozens of drones during the escalation. After nearly 87 hours of conflict, the situation de-escalated on May 10 following a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

While India’s aviation sector has reportedly suffered heavy financial losses due to extended flight routes and increased fuel costs, the impact on Pakistan’s aviation industry has remained comparatively limited.

Pakistan has previously imposed similar airspace restrictions during major conflicts, including the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, both of which led to greater disruption for Indian airlines than for Pakistan.