Hello friends! I am Maryam, and I hope you are all well. Kal aik dost ne bataya ke us ki Lahore se Dubai ki flight ab do ghante lambi ho gayi hai — aur ticket bhi mehngi! Wajah? Pakistan ne Indian flights par airspace ban November 24 tak barha diya hai. Dekhiye, mein aviation ki mahir nahi — bas aik aam Pakistani hoon jise ye dekh kar khushi hoti hai ke hamara mulk apne mufaad par qaim hai. To aaiye, is poori khabar ko aasaan lafzon mein samajhte hain.
Airspace ban India: what did Pakistan announce?
Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft until November 24. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a new notice. This kind of notice is called a NOTAM. In other words, it tells pilots about airspace rules.
The new ban started at 7:45pm on Saturday, October 17. It will end at 4:59am on November 24, 2026.
The old ban would end on October 24. So this is a fresh extension of one more month.
Which flights are banned?
The ban covers all Indian-registered aircraft. It also covers planes owned, operated, or leased by Indian airlines. In fact, even Indian military flights cannot enter.
The ban applies to both of Pakistan’s flight regions. These are the Karachi region and the Lahore region. So Indian planes cannot fly over any part of Pakistan.
Why did the airspace ban India start?
India and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines in April 2025. This happened after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, in India-occupied Kashmir.
India said Pakistan was behind the attack. But it gave no proof. Pakistan strongly denied any role. It even offered a neutral investigation.
On April 24, Pakistan’s top leaders announced strong steps against India. Closing the airspace was one of them. It was a reply to India’s own harsh steps.
In May, the two countries had a fierce air battle. Pakistan said it shot down seven Indian fighter jets. Both countries are nuclear powers. So the world watched this clash with worry.
How does the airspace ban India hurt Indian airlines?
The ban forces Indian planes to take longer routes. Longer routes need more fuel. And more fuel means more cost.
Air India suffers the most. It is India’s only airline with a big international network. Its fuel costs rose by as much as 29 percent. As a result, some long flights now take up to three hours more.
Air India says the ban could cut its yearly profit by $455 million. That is a huge amount. In fact, it tops the airline’s full-year loss of $439 million last year.
Other Indian airlines face the same problem. So the ban costs all of them a lot of money.
Longer flights also tire the crew more. So airlines must plan extra rest for pilots. Passengers feel the pain too. Their journeys take longer. And ticket prices may rise.
What is India doing about it?
India is looking for other routes. One idea is a new air route through Hotan in China’s Xinjiang region. This could shorten some westbound flights.
India’s aviation minister said talks with China are going on. But no final deal is confirmed yet. So Indian airlines must keep flying the long way for now.
The Hotan route would pass through Xinjiang in western China. From there, planes could fly west to Central Asia and Europe. For now, most Indian westbound flights go over the Arabian Sea toward Muscat. As a result, this adds 45 minutes to two hours on many routes. Some flights even need a technical stop. In other words, the plane lands to refuel. Then it flies again.
Has this happened before?
Yes. Pakistan has extended this ban many times since April 2025. Each time, a new NOTAM pushes the date forward by about a month.
So this airspace ban India story is not new. But each extension keeps the pressure on Indian airlines. In fact, each NOTAM replaces the old one. So the ban never really ends. Instead, it just gets a new date.
What happens next with the airspace ban India?
The airspace ban India will stay until November 24. After that, Pakistan may extend it again. Or the two countries may talk and find a solution.
For now, Indian travelers should expect longer flights to Europe, Central Asia, and North America. So travelers should check with their airline before flying. After all, rules can change fast.
Related story on Pak Unfiltered
Tensions between the two countries are high on other fronts too. Read our story: Pakistan Warns India of ‘Forceful Response’ After Defence Minister’s Remarks — Both Sides Explained.
Sources
Read Dawn’s full report here: Indian airlines barred from using Pakistani airspace until Nov 24 as ban extended. Bloom Pakistan also covered it: Pakistan Extends Ban on Indian Flights for Another Month. And NRI Page reports on India’s talks with China over an alternative Hotan air route.
My final words
Friends, flight bans sound technical. But they touch real life. As a result, they make tickets costly and journeys long.
At Pak Unfiltered, I will keep you updated on this story.
Take care, and fly safe! Do you have a question? Visit our Contact Us page here: Contact Us. I would love to hear from you.
