Overview
- The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a new NOTAM keeping Indian-registered and Indian-operated or leased civil and military flights out of Pakistani airspace until January 23, 2026.
- The restriction applies across Pakistan’s entire controlled airspace, covering the Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) flight information regions.
- The latest notice was announced about a week before the earlier December 24 expiry of the existing ban.
- India previously closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft in response and, according to reports, is expected to extend its reciprocal ban for a similar period.
- Industry data and media reports indicate roughly 800 weekly Indian flights have been forced onto longer routes, with Air India estimating annualised losses near Rs 4,000 crore and a Reuters-cited 29% jump in fuel costs; the carrier has sought Xinjiang overflight access from China.