Story perspectives

Pakistan bans Indian-registered flights until October 24, 2026

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 4:29 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Pakistan barred Indian-registered aircraft from its airspace after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
India is negotiating with China to open a Hotan corridor in Xinjiang as an alternative.
Indian airlines fly the L639 detour over the Arabian Sea, adding about 45 minutes to two hours.
Longer routes raised fuel use and costs, contributing to Air India’s FY26 net loss of INR15,368 crore.
Pakistan’s NOTAM bars Indian-registered aircraft from its airspace until 24 October 2026.

History

Historical Context

In March 2003 the United States closed Iraqi airspace after its invasion, ending the coalition-enforced no-fly zones that had been in place since the 1991 Gulf War. The ban forced carriers onto a two-hour, 5 % longer route that cost about $1 billion, a pattern echoed today by Pakistan’s NOTAM that bars Indian-registered flights and adds roughly 45 minutes and extra fuel for Air India.

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Story summary

Pakistan barred Indian-registered aircraft from its airspace after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
India is negotiating with China to open a Hotan corridor in Xinjiang as an alternative.
Indian airlines fly the L639 detour over the Arabian Sea, adding about 45 minutes to two hours.
Longer routes raised fuel use and costs, contributing to Air India’s FY26 net loss of INR15,368 crore.
Pakistan’s NOTAM bars Indian-registered aircraft from its airspace until 24 October 2026.

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