Some westbound operations for Indian carriers are about to get more complicated…
In this post:
Pakistan bans Indian aircraft from its airspace
Pakistan’s government has today decided to close Pakistani airspace to “all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines.” A NOTAM has been issued by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, and the restrictions apply as of 6PM IST today (Thursday, April 24, 2025).
This development follows escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, after Tuesday’s militant attack in Pahalgam, where at least 26 tourists were killed by gunfire. This marks the deadliest attack in Indian-administered Kashmir since 2019.
Responding to these attacks, India has closed its border crossings to Pakistan, has suspended a critical water sharing treaty, and has expelled diplomats. Now Pakistan is taking reciprocal action, and that includes closing airspace, among other things.
India of course has a huge airline industry, and many westbound flights from India use Pakistani airspace, including for flights to Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. So closing this airspace will prove complicated, and will add more flying time to some routes. Given the geography, this has more implications for flights out of Delhi (DEL) than flights out of Mumbai (BOM).
We’re already seeing some refueling diversions, for aircraft that are in the fair. For example, Air India’s flight to Delhi out of Toronto (YYZ) has diverted to Copenhagen (CPH).
We saw similar airspace closures in 2019
In 2019, we similarly saw Pakistan close its airspace to India. At that time, the airspace wasn’t just closed to aircraft registered in India, but also to any flights operating to and from India. This meant that carriers like Air Canada and United were impacted as well. This time around, it seems the new restrictions are targeted specifically at aircraft from India.
During the 2019 saga, the airspace stayed closed for around five months, before restrictions were eased. The 2019 situation was also caused by a conflict in Kashmir. Only time will tell how long this situation lasts. Will it be days, weeks, months, years, or…?
Bottom line
Pakistan is closing its airspace to Indian aircraft, whether they’re registered there, or operating on behalf of Indian carriers. This follows escalating tensions between the two countries, after a fatal attack a couple of day ago.
The airline industry faces a lot of headwind, and geopolitics sure can cause some additional complications. It remains to be seen how long this lasts. We last saw restrictions like this in 2019, when they lasted for around five months.
What do you make of Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian carriers, and how do you see this playing out?
“The 2019 situation was also caused by a disagreement in Kashmir.”. This must be a joke.
That “disagreement” was a suicide bomber killing 40 paramilitary troops. Oxford/Merriam Webster must have redefined “disagreement”.
A better example would be flights headed to the north from Delhi, not south. Air India flight 161 is scheduled to leave Delhi on time Friday morning, but arrive at Heathrow an hour and 41 minutes late.
an observation only: Identical happening now between Russia and much of everybody else.
There are more than 400,000 Indian soldiers in Kashmir. The attack took place in a city far away from Pakistani border. Where were Indian soldiers? And why would Pakistan plan such an attack when they know India will blame them? It seems Modi is playing another game in order to start a war with Pakistan. After all Modi is a democratically elected dictator. A Hindu woman whose husband was wounded said that she spent almost...
There are more than 400,000 Indian soldiers in Kashmir. The attack took place in a city far away from Pakistani border. Where were Indian soldiers? And why would Pakistan plan such an attack when they know India will blame them? It seems Modi is playing another game in order to start a war with Pakistan. After all Modi is a democratically elected dictator. A Hindu woman whose husband was wounded said that she spent almost 2 hours asking for help but there was no any Indian soldier or police around. No even emergency service. Her husband died later after excessive bleeding. Why was there no one from police or army when India has 400k soldiers in such a small area?
The Religion of Peace has again graced humanity with its abundance of love
Typical ignorant bigoted stupidity from you.
Of course, people like you defend their ongoing terrorism — why am I not surprised?
Big fan of your blog but this is/was in 2019 a little more than a “disagreement”. It’s a terrorist attack. Innocent lives were lost. A little discretion would reflect well. Unless you want to say that 9/11 was an ‘accident’.
It’s not just air travel. Modi ordered all Pakistani’s to leave India and closed the border to Pakistan. Escalating tensions.
Don't worry, a US Federal Court Judge is about to issue an injunction halting the Pakistani deportations
Risky move - India could commence air strikes, dropping tonnes of urine and trash from the sky.
India reopen the airspace by force
And how do you plan on doing that without starting a full scale war with a fellow nuclear state?
By bombing the f out of them. How else?
On a nuclear armed state? Do you guys use brains when you post nonsense??
Scares me that the votes of some people in here has the same value as mine.
Unfortunately, there is a likelihood of this happening if there isn't an intervention. India just needs a connection to act on and they will utilize it to retaliate. Both countries have a history of provoking acts of aggression towards the other country, which has led to multiple wars and many more near wars over the years. The 2019 escalation (which started with Indian fighter jets flying into Pakistani airspace and a failed attempt to attack...
Unfortunately, there is a likelihood of this happening if there isn't an intervention. India just needs a connection to act on and they will utilize it to retaliate. Both countries have a history of provoking acts of aggression towards the other country, which has led to multiple wars and many more near wars over the years. The 2019 escalation (which started with Indian fighter jets flying into Pakistani airspace and a failed attempt to attack - which ended in no civilian casualties) was resolved only because of mediation and pressure from foreign powers which prioritized a peaceful de-escalation because of the likelihood of war between two nuclear armed nations which would hurt everyone. And I know for a fact that Pakistan was still on a heightened military level within the country since 2019 due to a likelihood of conflict until at least 2022 (I don't know for sure about it after that).
However, the recent attack in Kashmir had many more casualties, and any tie to Pakistan would give India the reason they want for action. The current Prime Minister of India is a nationalist, and he was PM when the 2019 attack by India occurred (meaning it was under his leadership and likely approved by him and his cabinet). I'm not trying to take sides or show bias, my point is that it is likely India will try to retaliate militarily because the current leadership has a history of that. It doesn't matter that it can cause an all out war. They only see it as defending their nation (they being both countries). I hope a major world power is able to step in and mediate this conflict, and hopefully a peaceful de-escalation can occur in the future. In the present, it will likely escalate. The question is to what level. Indian PM Modi will have pressure to act. And if he attacks, Pakistan will retaliate.
Honestly, this is getting a little scary now. My point in this long comment is to provide some background and some history.
LOL!!!
I'm so tired of insecure politicians trying to act tough by imposing never ending tit-for-tat policies at their "enemies." I swear, why can't countries just be run by mature, level-headed adults. It's infuriating.
And look, I get that the attack was bad. It sucked. Terrible. But inconveniencing innocent people doesn't undo the attack, or end an alleged "occupation." Stupid.
" why can't countries just be run by mature, level-headed adults.?"
You mean women?
Women will not solve the problem. I'm in a country that's gone to sh!t after 8 years of a female president.
Has she started a fight with anyone?
Indira Ghandi was a woman and she led India to fight an all out war with Pakistan.
Yes Derek, thanks. I'm sure someone will bring up Thatcher and the Falklands next.....
Now that you mention the Iron Lady and a notable British Military victory ….
If you can’t even get the name right, i don’t know how to take you seriously…
Also i read details of this war now and based on what i found out, India had valid reasons to join this war since it went in conjunction with/support of Bangladesh’s struggle for liberation from Pakistan, who were suppressing the nation and its people
Jeez. Get out from under your rock, please. 26 people are dead. Add them to countless others who have lost lives and families to constant terrorism. Imagine, people on honeymoons, holidays, birthdays shot dead over religion. So it's ok if some people are 'inconvenienced'. It's not happening to you. It's happening to us. And we will take a little inconvenience over being shot when we step out.
Shut the airspace, cut all contact, and...
Jeez. Get out from under your rock, please. 26 people are dead. Add them to countless others who have lost lives and families to constant terrorism. Imagine, people on honeymoons, holidays, birthdays shot dead over religion. So it's ok if some people are 'inconvenienced'. It's not happening to you. It's happening to us. And we will take a little inconvenience over being shot when we step out.
Shut the airspace, cut all contact, and I suggest you guys could do the same and be helpful for once. Thanks.
@Theonlysanepersonhere
Like sanctions and embargo ever solved this problems even one time.