Pakistan Extends Indian Aircraft Airspace Ban Until November 24

KARACHI — Pakistan has extended its airspace restriction on Indian aircraft until November 24, 2026, continuing a ban that requires affected airlines to route around the country.

A copy of Pakistan Airports Authority notice A0590/26 reproduced by *Dawn* shows it took effect at 14:45 UTC on October 17, or 19:45 Pakistan time. It replaces A0521/26; the previous restriction had been due to expire on October 24, according to Business Recorder.

The notice covers the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions, identified as OPKR and OPLR. It applies to Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated, owned or leased by Indian airlines or operators, including military flights. Registration alone therefore does not define its reach: a foreign-registered aircraft leased by an Indian operator also falls within the stated categories.

Estimated expiry

The reproduced notice gives an estimated end of 23:59 UTC on November 23, equivalent to 04:59 Pakistan time on November 24. Its end-time field carries the suffix EST, which means estimated under international aviation notice conventions described in an Australian Transport Safety Bureau record. The date does not assure airlines that access will resume then.

The International Civil Aviation Organization's May 2025 contingency bulletin dates Pakistan's original restriction to April 24, 2025. It records coordination between Mumbai and Muscat air traffic control and airspace users to establish alternative routes after the closure.

Longer routings continue to affect operating costs. Business Recorder reports additional flight time and fuel costs on journeys to Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Airways previously covered carriers bypassing Pakistani airspace during the May 2025 tensions. The latest notice extends the period of the restriction; it does not announce individual airline cancellations or timetable changes.