Pakistan and India have completed one year of reciprocal airspace restrictions, with Islamabad extending its ban on Indian aircraft for another month.

According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday, Indian aircraft will remain barred from using Pakistani airspace until May 24.

The restrictions were first imposed in April 2025 following heightened tensions after an incident in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir. Multiple extensions since then have pushed the curbs into their 13th month.

The prolonged closure has significantly impacted Indian airlines. Carriers are being forced to take longer alternative routes, increasing flight durations by several hours and driving up fuel consumption and operational costs.

Industry experts say some flights now require overseas refuelling stops, while services on certain routes have been suspended altogether. The added costs have translated into higher airfares, passing the burden on to passengers.

According to estimates cited by Indian media, Air India alone could face annual losses of around 40 billion Indian rupees due to the restrictions.

In contrast, Pakistan’s national carrier, PIA, has seen limited impact. Its international network on affected routes is relatively small, and even before the ban, only a few weekly flights used Indian airspace.

Indian airlines, however, operate extensive routes to Europe, the UK and North America, making them more dependent on Pakistani airspace for shorter transit paths.

Experts note that if Pakistani airspace were accessible, airlines such as IndiGo and Air India could use more direct routes via northern Iran to reach Europe and other western destinations. Instead, they must continue to navigate longer and more complex paths.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East and related airspace restrictions have further compounded operational challenges for Indian carriers.