Pakistan has further extended the closure of its airspacealong its eastern border with India until June 15, according to the country’scivil aviation authority.
Pakistan fully closed its airspace in February after anIndian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp in Balakot. Thecountry opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkok andKuala Lumpur on March 27.
On May 15, Pakistan extended its airspace ban for flights toIndia till May 30.
According to a notice issued to airmen (NOTAM) by the CivilAviation Authority (CAA), the country’s airspace along the eastern border withIndia will remain closed until 5 am (local time) on June 15.
As per a separate NOTAM issued by the CAA, the Panjgoorairspace would remain open for overflying transit flights from the western sideas Air India had already been using that airspace.
Pakistan had given a special permission to India forExternal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to fly directly through Pakistaniairspace to attend the SCO meet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21. However, theairspace for other commercial airliners remained closed.
As a result of the ban, foreign carriers using Indianairspace have been forced to take costly detours because they cannot fly overPakistan. The closure mainly affects flights from Europe to Southeast Asia. Theflights from US and Europe flying in and out of New Delhi were worst hit.
Thousands of travellers suffer flight cancellations, delaysand soaring ticket prices due to Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace forflights to and from India.