By GlobalDeskNews Staff | October 18, 2026
Pakistan has kept its skies closed to Indian aircraft for another month. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on Saturday evening, extending a ban that now bars Indian planes from Pakistani airspace until just before dawn on November 24 — the latest renewal of a restriction in place since April 2025.
The previous extension had been due to expire on October 24, so the fresh notice stretches the closure by another month.
What the new NOTAM says
The notice took effect at 7:45pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026, and will remain in force until 04:59am on November 24, 2026, according to Dawn's report of the document.
Its key sentence, quoted verbatim by Dawn, reads: "Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights."
The restriction applies across Pakistan's two flight information regions — Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) — and a PAA spokesperson confirmed to Geo News the notice stays in force until 5am on November 24.
Why the extension matters for airlines and passengers
The biggest burden has fallen on India's airlines, particularly Air India. According to a document the airline submitted to Indian officials last October, reported by Dawn, fuel costs rose by as much as 29 per cent on some long-haul routes after the closure, and journey times stretched by up to three hours on the worst-affected sectors.
Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, estimated the annual impact of the Pakistani airspace closure on its profit before tax at $455 million. Dawn noted that figure is significant against the airline's fiscal 2024-25 loss, which stood at $439m.
Flights between India and destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia that once transited Pakistani airspace continue to take longer southern or northern detours.
How the airspace ban began
The closure dates to April 2025. Dawn reported that on April 24 of that year, Pakistan's top brass announced a series of measures — including closing the country's airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines with immediate effect — as retaliation for what it called aggressive measures by New Delhi following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, in India-administered Kashmir.
New Delhi had alleged, without publicly presenting evidence, that Islamabad backed the attack. Pakistan strongly denied any involvement and offered a neutral probe, Dawn reported.
Geo News reported that India responded by closing its own airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025, and that the May fighting lasted nearly 87 hours before a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, which it described as US-brokered.
The two outlets report Pakistan's claimed aircraft kills differently — Dawn wrote that "Pakistan said it downed seven Indian fighter jets," while Geo News wrote that Pakistan "said it had shot down eight Indian fighter aircraft, including three Rafale jets." Neither figure is independently confirmed.
Since the ceasefire, Pakistan has renewed the airspace NOTAM several times. Each extension has run for roughly a month, and each has signalled that the broader diplomatic freeze remains firmly in place.
What happens next
The new NOTAM expires at 04:59am on November 24, and if the pattern of the past year holds, another extension will land in late November — unless diplomacy intervenes. There is no public sign of talks aimed at reopening either country's skies.
Three things to watch: whether Indian carriers reshape winter schedules further, since the extension covers the full November booking window; whether Islamabad or New Delhi link the airspace question to any wider confidence-building steps; and whether the cost picture moves — Air India's $455 million estimate was based on last year's traffic.
If you are flying between India and points west — London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Riyadh — expect the detour to continue, and check journey times when booking. For at least one more month, the shortest route runs around Pakistan's airspace, not through it.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan's airports authority issued a fresh NOTAM on October 17, 2026, extending the airspace ban on Indian aircraft until 04:59am on November 24, 2026.
- The ban covers Indian-registered aircraft, planes owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines, and Indian military flights, across the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions.
- Air India has said the closure raised fuel costs by up to 29% on some long-haul routes, with an estimated $455 million annual hit to pre-tax profit.
- The restriction dates to April 2025, when Pakistan closed its skies after the Pahalgam attack; India imposed a reciprocal closure on April 30, 2025.
- Pakistan has extended the NOTAM roughly every month since; there is no public sign of talks to reopen either country's airspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Until when is Pakistan's airspace closed to Indian aircraft?
The latest NOTAM, issued on Saturday, October 17, 2026, keeps the ban in force until 04:59am on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. The previous extension had been due to expire on October 24, so this renewal adds roughly one more month to a closure that has been in place since April 2025.
Which aircraft does the ban cover?
The NOTAM's own wording says: "Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights." That covers both commercial and military traffic, including aircraft merely leased by Indian operators. No exceptions are stated in the notice.
How much is the closure costing Indian airlines?
Dawn reported, citing a document Air India submitted to Indian officials last October, that fuel costs rose by as much as 29 per cent on some long-haul routes and journey times grew by up to three hours. The airline estimated the closure's annual impact on its profit before tax at $455 million, against a fiscal 2024-25 loss of $439m.
When did the airspace ban start?
Pakistan first closed its airspace to Indian aircraft in April 2025, with the closure announced on April 24 as part of retaliatory measures after the deadly Pahalgam attack in India-administered Kashmir. India imposed a reciprocal ban on Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025. Pakistan has renewed its NOTAM roughly every month since.
Will the ban be lifted after November 24?
That is unclear. The pattern of the past year has been monthly renewals, and neither Islamabad nor New Delhi has publicly linked the closure to any upcoming talks. Another extension in late November is the most likely outcome unless diplomacy shifts, so travellers should plan on detours continuing into winter.
Sources
- Dawn — "Indian airlines barred from using Pakistani airspace until Nov 24 as ban extended" (published October 17, 2026, 22:55 PKT) — NOTAM text, effective dates, FIRs, Air India cost figures.
- Geo News (Reuters byline) — "Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft till Nov 24" (published October 17, 2026) — PAA spokesperson confirmation, April 2025 timeline, reciprocal Indian closure, May 2025 confrontation and ceasefire details.
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