Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has officially issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) announcing the closure of its airspace to Indian-registered airlines, following Islamabad’s decision to suspend overflight permissions in response to rising tensions with New Delhi, Express News reported.
The airspace restriction applies to all Indian-registered civil and military aircraft, as well as aircraft leased or operated by Indian carriers. The CAA stated that the ban will initially remain in place for one month.
“This action means Indian airlines will not be permitted to use Pakistani airspace,” read the notification. “The restriction includes both civil and military aircraft, along with leased aircraft under Indian operational control.”
The move is expected to significantly impact Indian airlines, with daily bilateral overflights ranging from 70 to 100. Flights from major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Lucknow routinely use Pakistani airspace en route to destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
Indian carriers affected by the ban include Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air. The closure will add up to two hours of flight time and result in millions of rupees in additional operational costs each day, aviation analysts estimate.
