Restriction bars Indian commercial airlines, military flights from entering Pakistani airspace
\n ISLAMABAD
\nPakistan has extended its airspace ban for all Indian-registered and Indian-operated aircraft, including military planes, for another month, until 5:00am local time on July 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority said in a statement on Monday.
\nAccording to a new NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), the restriction bars Indian commercial airlines, India-registered aircraft, and military flights from entering Pakistani airspace.
\nPakistan closed its air space for Indian airlines in a tit-for-tat move after New Delhi suspended critical Indus Water Treaty amid heightened bilateral tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
\nFollowing Pakistan\u2019s decision, India shut its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30.
\nPakistan\u2019s initial restriction was extended on May 23 for another month.
\nThe latest extension to bring the total duration of Pakistan\u2019s airspace closure for Indian aircraft to 90 days.
\nOn May 6-7, India launched unprovoked attacks on multiple Pakistani cities.
\nIn response, Pakistan armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action, named \u201cOperation Bunyan-um-Marsoos\u201d, and targeted several Indian military targets across multiple regions.
\nThe strikes, described by officials as \u201cprecise and proportionate\u201d, were carried out in response to India\u2019s continued aggression across the Line of Control (LoC) and within Pakistan\u2019s territory, which New Delhi claimed were aimed at \u201cterrorist targets\u201d.
\nPakistan downed its six fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
\nAccording to ISPR, a total of 53 individuals, including 13 personnel of the armed forces and 40 civilians, were martyred in Indian strikes during the recent military confrontation.
\nWhile India\u2019s aviation industry has faced heavy losses, the impact on Pakistani aviation has been minimal. With only one eastbound flight rerouted via China and limited operations in the Far East, Pakistan\u2019s aviation sector remains largely unaffected.
\nThis is not the first time Pakistan has imposed such restrictions. Airspace closures were previously enacted during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, both instances in which India faced greater aviation disruptions than Pakistan.
\nFinancial blow to Indian airlines
\nAccording to sources, Indian airlines have suffered losses exceeding Rs8 billion in April alone. These include Rs5 billion in additional fuel costs and Rs3 billion in expenses incurred due to forced stopovers by long-haul flights, according to Reuters.
\nSources note that Indian carriers operating Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 family aircraft have had to endure 2 to 4 hours of extra flying time per journey. With approximately 150 flights rerouted daily, fuel consumption has surged dramatically.
\nExperts estimate that a Boeing 777 consumes about 6,668 kilograms of fuel per hour, while an Airbus A319, A320, or A321 uses around 2,400 kilograms per hour. At the current average jet fuel price of $0.82 per kilogram, Indian airlines are spending nearly $557,625 daily on additional fuel alone. That amounts to over Rs5 billion in fuel-related losses in one month.
\nIn addition, the extended travel times have triggered crew duty hour limitations, necessitating crew changes at transit airports. These stopovers also involve added costs for landing fees, refuelling, and airport services. Over the past 30 days, such stopover-related expenses have totalled between Rs2.5 and Rs3 billion.
\nAir India is reportedly the worst-hit carrier and has requested financial support from the Indian government. Other airlines, including Akasa Air, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India Express, have also faced operational disruptions.
\nFlights originating from Amritsar, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Jaipur are now forced to traverse longer western routes over the Arabian Sea. These detours affect flights to destinations in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
\nSources have indicated that if the ban continues and the Indian government does not provide special assistance, Indian airlines may be forced to take extraordinary steps to sustain operations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Restriction bars Indian commercial airlines, military flights from entering Pakistani airspace ISLAMABAD Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for all Indian-registered and Indian-operated aircraft, including military planes, for another month, until 5:00am local time on July 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority said in a statement on Monday. According to a new NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-486057","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n