India, Pakistan extend mutual airspace ban as tensions escalate

In a stark reminder of the fragility of peace between South Asia’s nuclear-armed rivals, India and Pakistan announced May 23 they will continue their mutual airspace bans, deepening the impact of last month’s deadly military flare-up over Kashmir.

The extension comes in the wake of a brutal four-day conflict that erupted after an April 22 attack on Indian tourists in the disputed Himalayan territory. The assault, which claimed dozens of lives, triggered a swift and deadly military exchange between the two nations—one of the worst escalations in decades.

Missile strikes, drone assaults, and heavy artillery fire between April 23 and May 10 left more than 70 people dead before a ceasefire was brokered. But while the guns have momentarily quieted, the diplomatic and logistical aftershocks are rippling far and wide — especially in the skies.

On April 24, Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian aircraft. India responded in kind days later. Initially slated to end on May 23, both countries confirmed the bans would now remain in place for at least another month.

“No flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace,” stated Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, extending the ban until the morning of June 24.

India's Ministry of Civil Aviation mirrored the stance, saying its airspace restrictions for Pakistan-bound flights would also continue until June 23.

The standoff is more than symbolic. With airspace sealed off across a critical corridor, flight paths between India and destinations in Central Asia, Europe, and North America have been rerouted—adding up to two hours of flight time. The ripple effect is being felt across airlines and passengers alike, with longer travel times and higher operating costs poised to drive up ticket prices.

This isn't uncharted territory. When Islamabad closed its skies in 2019 after Indian airstrikes followed a similar Kashmir attack, Indian airlines suffered an estimated loss of 5.5 billion rupees (about $64 million USD) over a five-month period, according to Indian government figures.

At the heart of the enduring crisis is Kashmir — a predominantly Muslim region claimed in full by both nations and long the flashpoint of wars, insurgencies, and diplomatic breakdowns since the 1947 partition from British colonial rule.

As the geopolitical fallout continues to take a toll on regional stability and global aviation, analysts warn that without substantive dialogue, the airspace closure may be only a symptom of a deeper and potentially volatile deadlock.