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

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.

The decision follows the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours have spiked since the incident.