India closes its airspace to all Pakistani Aircrafts

India closes its airspace to all Pakistani-operated, owned, or leased aircraft, either civilian or military, effective from April 30 to May 23. The move was conveyed through a Notice to Airmen issued on Wednesday (April 30) that comes in direct response to Islamabad’s earlier airspace restrictions on Indian flights.

This decision comes as a follow-up to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian Hindu tourists. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours have spiked since the incident.

India’s airspace closure will compel Pakistani airlines to reroute flights destined for Southeast Asia and Oceania through longer path — primarily via China or the Arabian Sea — escalating both flight durations and operating costs. This poses a significant setback for Pakistan’s already struggling aviation industry.