Pakistan extends ban on Indian civilian and military aircraft over its airspace to 24 November 2026

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority on 18 October extended its year-old airspace restriction on Indian-registered aircraft—both civilian and military—until 04:59 local time on 24 November 2026. The prohibition covers the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions and was communicated via a fresh NOTAM as well as a post on X. Reciprocal overflight bans were first imposed in April 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, forcing airlines on both sides to reroute around each other’s airspace. International carriers operating India-Europe and India-North America sectors have since been taking longer detours via the Arabian Sea or Central Asia, adding up to 40 minutes of flight time and raising fuel costs. For Indian business travellers the immediate impact is on flight schedules rather than entry permissions, but the cost implications are significant. Aviation analytics firm OAG estimates that additional fuel and crew expenses have increased airline operating costs on affected routes by 6-8%, much of which is now reflected in higher fares. Unless diplomatic progress is achieved, airlines planning new winter schedules must file longer routings through Iranian, Omani or UAE airspace and adjust contingency fuel loads. Corporations with frequent traveller programmes should budget for potential surcharges and longer journey times, and factor extended duty-of-care considerations for crew rest and passenger fatigue. Policy watchers say the recurring one-month extensions indicate no near-term resolution; global-mobility managers should prepare for the ban to roll into 2027, complicating network planning for Indian carriers eyeing further transcontinental expansion.