Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Flights Till Jan 23; India to Reciprocate

• Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft until January 23, following an initial closure in April after the Pahalgam attack.
• The ban, now nearly nine months old, applies to all Indian-registered aircraft, including military flights, across Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) FIRs.
• India is expected to reciprocate by extending its own ban on Pakistani carriers for a similar timeframe.
• The restriction severely impacts India's aviation sector, forcing longer routes, increasing fuel costs, and operational expenses for ~800 weekly flights.
• Air India estimates an annualised cost of Rs 4,000 crore due to the ban, while Pakistan's aviation sector faces a relatively lower impact.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's extended airspace ban till January 23 severely impacts Indian airlines, with India expected to reciprocate.