New Delhi, May 1: In a retaliatory measure, India has suspended access to its airspace for all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft — including both civilian and military — effective from April 30 to May 23. The decision was formally communicated via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Wednesday.
The move comes in response to Pakistan’s earlier restrictions on Indian air traffic and follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 tourists dead. The incident has sharply heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
As a result of the airspace closure, Pakistani carriers will be forced to take longer, costlier alternative routes — primarily via China or the Arabian Sea — to reach destinations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The detours are expected to significantly increase flight times and operational expenses, dealing a fresh blow to Pakistan’s already struggling aviation sector.
