Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using national airspace until August 24, 2026, the Pakistan Airports Authority announced on Saturday. The restriction encompasses both of Pakistan’s flight information regions, namely Lahore (OPLR) and Karachi (OPKR).
The authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) following government directives, prolonging restrictions initially implemented on April 23, 2025. The prohibition covers all Indian civilian and military aircraft, alongside any planes owned, operated, or leased by Indian airlines across both flight information regions of Karachi and Lahore.
Government officials enacted the airspace closure after New Delhi announced to unilaterally put in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty following the May 2025 military conflict between both countries.
The continuous ban has now run for over a year, forcing Indian carriers onto longer, costlier routes to Europe, North America, and Central Asia.
Air India Group, in which Singapore Airlines holds a 25 percent stake, posted a record annual loss of roughly $2.8 billion for fiscal year 2025-26, while Delhi-Washington, D.C. operations have remained suspended since September 2025.
The closure impacts India’s aviation sector severely, generating massive operational losses, whereas Pakistan experiences comparatively limited disruption. Historical precedents show similar restrictions during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, creating prolonged rerouting challenges predominantly for Indian carriers.
