Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on India until December 23, issuing a fresh NOTAM that maintains restrictions first imposed on April 23, 2025.

According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, the ban applies to all India-registered, owned, operated, or leased aircraft, including commercial and military flights.

The NOTAM states that Indian aircraft will remain prohibited from entering Pakistani airspace for the duration of the extension.

The ongoing suspension has forced Indian airlines to operate longer alternate routes, resulting in reported losses of billions of rupees due to increased fuel consumption and operational delays.

Authorities in Islamabad have not publicly indicated when the airspace might reopen.

Air India seeks China route as costs surge

According to Reuters, Air India is lobbying the Indian government to convince China to let it use a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang to shorten routes as the financial toll from a ban on Indian carriers flying over Pakistan mounts, a company document shows.

The unusual request comes just weeks after direct India-China flights resumed after a five-year hiatus following a Himalayan border clash between the nations.

Increase in fuel cost

For Air India, the country’s only carrier with a major international network, fuel costs have risen by as much as 29% and journey times by up to three hours on some long-haul routes, according to the previously unreported document submitted to Indian officials in late October and reviewed by Reuters.

The Indian government is reviewing Air India’s plea to diplomatically ask China to allow an alternative routing and emergency access to airports in case of diversions at Hotan, Kashgar and Urumqi in Xinjiang, aiming to reach the US, Canada and Europe faster, the document said.

“Air India’s long-haul network is under severe operational and financial strain … Securing the Hotan route will be a strategic option,” it added.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it was not aware of the situation and referred Reuters to the “relevant authorities”.