Pakistan today announced the extension of the closure of its airspace to all Indian civil and military aircraft and those operated by Indian airlines for a further month, until June 24, 2025. The decision, announced by Pakistani civil aviation authorities, prolongs a restriction initially imposed on April 24, 2025, in response to the deterioration of relations between the two countries (see AVIONEWS 1, 2 and 3).

The measure, already in force as we said since April 24 following a terrorist attack in the Kashmir region (specifically in Pahalgam, which caused civilian casualties), has significant repercussions on Indian air traffic. Around 800 weekly connections, most of which (around 640) departing or arriving from Delhi, are forced to change their routes.

Indian airlines, especially those operating routes from the north to the Middle East, the Caucasus, Europe, the UK and North America, are facing a significant increase in operating costs. Longer flight times, higher fuel consumption and the need to reschedule crews are all adding to the financial burden. These factors are estimated to add several hours to journeys, depending on the destination. Sources close to Air India, India’s national carrier now part of the Tata Group, have already estimated annual losses of up to $600 million due to the aforementioned diversions.

This is not the first time that Pakistan has taken such a measure. In 2019, a similar shutdown lasted for about four months, causing huge financial losses for Indian airlines. The current extension, notified through a “Notice to Airmen” (Notam) by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), was also followed by a similar move by India, which extended the closure of its airspace to Pakistani aircraft until June 23.

The persistence of these restrictions in the skies underscores the ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, despite recent attempts at de-escalation or ceasefire announcements on other fronts. The authorities in Islamabad continue to deny any involvement in the Pahalgam attack, while New Delhi maintains a firm stance, accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism. The economic and logistical impact of this dispute on civil aviation remains a clear sign of the strained relations between the two nuclear powers.