KARACHI – Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft by another month, the officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) after receiving approval from the federal government.
The NOTAM said that Pakistan’s airspace will remain closed to Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated by Indian airlines until January 23, 2026.
Pakistan had initially imposed the airspace restriction on April 23, 2025, and the ban has since been extended periodically.
The officials said the latest extension is part of the continuation of the existing policy regarding airspace restrictions for Indian aircraft.
Air India, the flag carrier of the neighbouring country, has suffered financial loss of more than 4,000 crore India rupees due to closure of airspace by Pakistan.
Pakistani airspace will remain closed to Indian registered aircraft,” the NOTAM had said.
Indian media channel Republic News report that the airspace closure has caused Air India a heavy financial loss of more than 4,000 crore rupees. The airline has reportedly sought compensation from the Indian government to cover these losses.
It said Air India has been forced to seek formal approval from the Indian government to use China’s airspace as an alternative route, significantly increasing operational costs due to longer flight paths.
As per Reuters news agency, the closure of Pakistani airspace has led to a 29 percent rise in fuel costs for Air India.
The airline is now facing annual losses of up to 45 crore dollars due to the airspace restrictions. Additionally, flights to destinations in the United States, Canada, and Europe now have to take longer routes, further escalating operational expenses.
In a bid to reduce losses, Air India has requested China to open its Xinjiang airspace for Indian flights and has begun lobbying for the approval. However, the Chinese foreign ministry has expressed no knowledge of India’s request, leaving the matter unresolved for now.
