Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian-registered aircraft till April 24

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) has once again extended its ban on Indian aircraft, keeping Pakistan’s airspace closed to them until April 24 through a newly issued Notice to Airmen (Notam) on Wednesday. Under the directive, all aircraft registered in India, as well as those operated, leased, or owned by Indian carriers, will remain barred from entering Pakistani airspace. The restriction also includes Indian military flights. The ban applies across both of the country’s Flight Information Regions: Karachi FIR (OPKR) and Lahore FIR (OPLR), as per the framework outlined by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Read More: Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian-registered aircraft till February 24 The latest extension comes just ahead of the previous Notam’s expiry on March 23, reflecting ongoing strain in bilateral ties. Airspace restrictions between Pakistan and India have remained in place since late April 2025, when relations sharply deteriorated following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, that left 26 people dead. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the incident without providing evidence, while Pakistan rejected the allegations and called for an impartial investigation. Tensions further escalated in May 2025, when both sides engaged in one of their most intense aerial confrontations in recent years. Pakistani authorities claimed to have downed seven Indian fighter jets during the clashes.