Pakistan Airports Authority has extended the airspace ban for Indian aircraft by one more month. According to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued on Tuesday, Pakistan's airspace will now remain closed for Indian aircraft till February 24.
The notice of extension of this ban has been given just three days before the end of the ban on January 23, which was last extended on December 17. India and Pakistan have closed their airspace to each other's airlines after tensions rose between the two countries following an attack in Pahalgam in occupied Kashmir in late April that killed 26 people.
Issuing a fresh NOTAM, the authority said that Pakistan's airspace will remain closed for aircraft registered in India till 5 am on February 24, due to which the already implemented ban has been extended.
The ban applies to all aircraft registered in India as well as any aircraft operated, owned or leased by Indian airlines or operators, including military flights. The rules regarding closure of airspace apply from ground level to unlimited altitude.
According to a 2022 document of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), Pakistan's airspace is divided into two Flight Information Regions (FIRs) Karachi and Lahore. This NOTAM applies to both Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) FIRs.
Airlines of both the countries are having to travel through long and winding routes due to the ban, due to which they are incurring losses. This is directly affecting the passengers, because they have to spend more money and more time for their journey.
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