What happened
As reported by Dawn, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) extending its airspace ban on Indian aircraft. The previous extension was set to expire on October 24. The updated restriction went into effect at 7:45 pm on Saturday and is scheduled to remain active until 4:59 am on November 24, 2026. The specific calendar date of the Saturday mentioned is not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Key facts
- The prohibition covers all Indian-registered aircraft, military flights, and any planes leased, owned, or operated by Indian airlines.
- The order applies to both of Pakistan's flight information regions: Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR).
- The reciprocal airspace closures originated in late April 2025 amidst rising bilateral tensions following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in India-occupied Kashmir.
- Pakistan announced its airspace closure on April 24 after India alleged Islamabad was behind the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan denied the accusation, offered a neutral inquiry, and later stated it shot down seven Indian fighter jets during an aerial confrontation in May.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, repeated extensions of the restriction have compelled Indian carriers to redirect flights through longer, more expensive routes. Documented details submitted to Indian officials last October show that Air India—which is owned by Singapore Airlines and the Tata Group—experienced travel time increases of up to three hours on select long-haul flights, alongside fuel cost spikes of up to 29 percent. Air India calculated the annual impact on its pre-tax profit at $455 million, following a $439 million loss during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 17, 2026 · Photo by Bornil Amin on Unsplash