Pakistan closes airspace to Indian aircraft

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has immediately closed Pakistan’s airspace for Indian aircraft soon after the NSC decision.

“Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and operated/ owned and leased by the Indian Airlines including military flights,” read a message on the Notices for Airmen (NOTAMS) on PCAA official website.

According to NOTAMS, the directives will be effective initially for one month starting from 1230 hours on April 24, 2025 to 2359 Hours on May 23, 2025.

According to aviation experts, the closure of airspace could cost Indian carriers up to $500 million within a month.

Senior aviation journalist Tahir Imran Mian said that on the day the airspace was sealed, around 50 Indian flights were either transiting or scheduled to transit through Pakistan.

On an average, 200 to 300 Indian flights use Pakistan’s airspace daily. The affected carriers include Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, which operate between 70 to 80 round-trip international flights through Pakistani airspace every day. These flights originate from key Indian cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Goa.

The closure is expected to add approximately two hours of additional travel time per flight, significantly increasing fuel consumption and operational costs.