Pakistan Closes Airspace to Indian Aircraft, Civil Aviation Authority Issues NOTAM
Islamabad – Pakistan has officially closed its airspace to Indian aircraft following heightened diplomatic tensions, as confirmed by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
According to the CAA, Indian-registered airlines will no longer be permitted to use Pakistani airspace for civilian or military aircraft. The restriction also applies to aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Indian operators.
The airspace closure is initially set for one month and is expected to have a significant financial impact on Indian airlines. Reports suggest that Indian carriers operating international routes through Pakistan’s airspace will now face daily additional costs running into millions of rupees.
On average, between 70 to 80 Indian flights cross Pakistani airspace daily, with the number sometimes exceeding 100. The affected airlines include major carriers such as Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Akasa Air.
Flights originating from key Indian cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Delhi, and Goa will now have to reroute, resulting in longer flight times—estimated at an additional two hours for each affected route.
The move is a part of broader retaliatory measures following escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries.
