India extends ban on Pakistani airlines into sixth month, disrupting 800 weekly flights

India has extended its ban on Pakistani airlines and aircraft from entering its airspace by another month, keeping the closure in effect until 5:29 am on October 24, according to a fresh notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued recently.

The move comes in response to Pakistan’s recent extension of its own closure for Indian carriers, marking the sixth consecutive month of reciprocal airspace restrictions.

The ban traces back to April 24, following a sharp deterioration in ties after the Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan initially barred Indian airlines from its airspace for a month, prompting India to reciprocate on April 30. Since then, both nations have repeatedly extended their closures through monthly NOTAMs. Despite the bans, airspace remains open to aircraft from other countries.

The restrictions have hit Indian airlines hard. Roughly 800 weekly flights, mainly from North India to West Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the UK, and North America, now take longer alternate routes, adding up to several hours to journey times. This has triggered higher fuel consumption, operational challenges, and increased costs for carriers like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express.

Some routes, such as Delhi to Almaty and Tashkent, have even been suspended due to the limits of narrow-body aircraft range. Cirium data shows nearly 400 weekly westbound departures from Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, and Lucknow are affected, doubling to 800 flights when return journeys are counted.

Financially, the impact is significant. During Pakistan’s four-month closure in 2019, Indian airlines suffered losses estimated at around ₹700 crore. Air India has projected that the ongoing closure could cost it approximately $600 million annually. Unlike India, the closure has minimal effect on Pakistan, where only a handful of PIA flights fly over Indian airspace each week.

With both nations maintaining these restrictions, the disruption to Indian aviation is poised to continue, underscoring the broader economic consequences of deteriorating bilateral relations.