Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Aircraft Until Late February

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) officially extended the ban on all Indian-registered aircraft from using its airspace for another month, keeping the restriction in place until February 24, 2026. The move, issued via a new “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM), marks the tenth consecutive month of a total blockade on Indian-owned, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights. The ban remains effective from ground level to unlimited altitude across both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions.

The diplomatic freeze began on April 24, 2025, after New Delhi unilaterally suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty following a militant attack in Pahalgam. Tensions peaked in May 2025 with “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” a major aerial conflict where Pakistan reportedly downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. While a US-brokered ceasefire ended active hostilities after 87 hours, the aviation sector has borne the brunt of the lingering stalemate. Indian carriers, particularly Air India and IndiGo, are facing estimated annual losses of Rs4,000 crore ($480 million) due to massive fuel costs and flight diversions for routes to Europe and North America.

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Aviation experts note that while India’s long-haul network is struggling with 3-hour delays to some destinations, the impact on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been minimal due to its smaller international footprint. With the Indus Waters Treaty still in abeyance and both nations refusing to blink, the “sky war” shows no signs of easing. The current restriction is set to expire at 5:00 AM on February 24, unless a further extension is granted.