When the news began to run down Pakistan’s closure of the airspace for an aircraft registered by Indian, discussions on social media and comments were underway, except for an official confirmation that did not come for a while. Although various reports began to indicate the closure of air space, the Indian aircraft via airlines continued in excessive Pakistan, especially those that came from Delhi or other northern airports until the Indigo aircraft from Sharjah to Amritsar turned to avoid Pakistani airspace. Notam (announcement for pilots) was released at the right time. The closure of the airspace is currently for the Moon and ends on May 24, 2025 at 0530 hours of Indian Standard Time.
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Notam states that Pakistani air space will not be available for Indian aircraft and aircraft operated, owned or rented by Indian airlines and operators.
This comes the day after India took the initial steps and described it as the first step as a retaliation for a terrible attack on tourists in Pahalgam, killed 27 and hurt several others. Initial measures in India were to suspend an Indus water contract, reduce the staff of the embassy and cancel the visas together with the Wagah-Attari boundary.
Pakistan on February 27, 2019 closed its air space for all Indian and Indian aircraft, as a retaliation of the Indian Air Force in Pakistan, after a deadly attack on the paramilitary force in Pulwama. Sudden closure led to the fact that many flights turned back in the air and had to hold fuel stops. The airspace was opened on 16 July, the same year after closing 140 days.
During the Kargil War in 1999, there was also closure of closure, but Indian aviation was much smaller than what today is without a private carrier that flew international flights and only a handful of private carriers were present in the sky.
The way it differs this time is that closing is currently limited to Indian carriers, including Indigo aircraft, which come from Qatar Airways and Turkish airlines. This means that foreign carriers are able to work in India through Pakistani air space, which provides foreign carriers asymmetric advantage in terms of operating time and costs.
What to do next?
The current situation guarantees the approach of waiting and monitoring for airlines, airports and passengers. The geopolitical situation always evolves, and although the political highest brass talks about appropriate behavior, it cannot be immediate. It would now focus on tourists who are stuck in Srinagar and Kashmir Valley and want to return safely with other flights from Srinagar, which are already coordinated and limited to tariffs.
For the time being, it is for the airlines to adjust the plans for uncertainty. These changes take the time to be reflected because several factors need to be considered. While Indian carriers had access to the Russian air space, which makes Air India to fly to Europe and North America compared to European and American carriers, the closure of Pakistan’s airspace completely changes the equation.
What should passengers do?
They are early times and passengers must be in waiting and tracking mode. If you are already booked with one of the Indian carriers for years that set out on the northern journey above Pakistan, expect delay or cancellation for flight. If you connect via Delhi to one of the Indian carriers, the connection time may move.
The situation develops with every country that increases ante. Passengers should currently evaluate security and travel arrangements and inform their passengers’ details with airlines to release the information first and help passengers.
(Tagstotranslate) Pakistani airspace closure
