The protracted aerial standoff between Pakistan and India is set to continue through March 23rd, as Islamabad issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) extending its airspace restrictions against Indian aircraft. This reciprocal closure, now entering its eleventh consecutive month, represents one of the longest disruptions in civil aviation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The airspace restrictions originated on April 24, 2025, when Pakistan implemented the ban in response to India’s earlier closure following the Pahalgam terror attack. The tit-for-tat measures have created significant operational challenges for airlines, particularly Indian carriers who are reportedly incurring approximately $1 billion in annual losses due to extended flight paths, increased fuel consumption, and logistical complications.
Approximately 800 flights operated by Indian airlines have been affected, primarily those connecting Delhi and other northern Indian airports to destinations in the Gulf region, Middle East, Europe, and eastern North America. Interestingly, Pakistan International Airlines has experienced minimal impact since the carrier operates limited routes that traverse Indian airspace toward eastern destinations.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that the NOTAM applies to both of the country’s flight information regions in Karachi and Lahore. This marks the second major airspace closure between the nations in recent years, recalling the nearly five-month shutdown in 2019 following the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent military tensions. During that previous closure, Indian airlines suffered financial losses exceeding $64 million.
Aviation analysts note that India is expected to maintain reciprocal restrictions, prolonging the economic and operational consequences for both nations’ aviation sectors. The persistent airspace closure underscores how geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt regional connectivity and economic stability in South Asia.