In a firm response to cross-border terrorism, India has prolonged its airspace prohibition for all Pakistani flights until May 24, 2026. The extension follows the deadly April 2025 assault in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 innocent tourist lives and reignited longstanding hostilities.
According to the latest NOTAM, the ban kicks in and holds through 5:30 AM IST on the specified date. It covers every Pakistani-registered plane, those run by national carriers, owned by Pakistani entities, and all military operations—no exceptions.
This is no isolated action; it’s the latest in a series of monthly renewals stretching over a year, mirroring Pakistan’s own blockade of Indian flights. The mutual shutdown has reshaped flight paths across South Asia.
Airlines are bleeding money from the mandatory detours. With fuel devouring 40% of budgets, longer routes mean higher costs, squeezed margins, and operational headaches. Passengers endure longer journeys, while carriers scramble to adjust.
For Indian operators, Middle East instability adds insult to injury. Flights now weave through the Arabian Sea, detour via Central Asia, or loop around African corridors, ballooning travel times and fuel use. Crew duty strains are pushing safety limits.
Air India, for one, has seen transcontinental routes to the West extend dramatically, prompting flight cuts. The DGCA stepped in with emergency relief, easing flight duty time restrictions for pilots on these marathon hauls.
The saga underscores how terror strikes reverberate through everyday travel. As both nations dig in, the aviation sector pays the price, with no quick resolution in sight amid entrenched animosity.
