The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) extended the airspace ban for Indian aircraft today, April 21, 2026. This extension adds another month to the existing flight restrictions. Consequently, the ban will remain in effect until May 24, 2026, at 4:59 AM. This decision marks exactly one year since Pakistan first restricted Indian airlines from its skies.
Scope of the Airspace Ban
The PAA issued a formal Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to confirm the extension. According to NOTAM A0221/26, Pakistani airspace remains closed to all Indian-registered aircraft. This restriction specifically includes aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Indian airlines and operators. Furthermore, the ban covers all Indian military flights.
The restriction applies to both of Pakistan’s flight information regions (FIRs). These regions include Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR). Additionally, the NOTAM specifies that the ban is effective from the ground (GND) to an unlimited (UNL) altitude.
A Year of Heightened Tensions
The previous extension was set to expire on April 24. However, the authorities decided to prolong the measures today. Both nations have closed their airspaces to each other since late April 2025. These tensions escalated following a deadly attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
On April 24, 2025, Pakistan’s top brass announced these measures to retaliate against aggressive actions from New Delhi. While India alleged Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad denied these claims and offered a neutral investigation. The conflict reached a peak in May 2025 during a fierce air battle. During that encounter, Pakistan reported downing seven Indian fighter jets.
The current NOTAM replaces the previous notice, A0161/26. It ensures that the current blockade remains fully operational for another month.
