Islamabad:
The closure of Pakistan’s airspace has affected 100 to 150 Indian airplanes daily, resulting in a reduction of approximately 20% in air traffic, said a written response presented by the Ministry of Defense to the National Assembly with respect to the closure of the airspace following the confrontation of Pakistan-India in May.
According to the Airport Authority of Pakistan (PAA), the closure of the aircraft registered with the Indian airlines caused a loss of approximately RS4.1 billion in revenue per overflow between April 24 and June 30, 2025.
The airspace closed after the April 22 attack against tourists in the Kashmir occupied by India. Later, on May 7, India launched missile strikes inside Pakistan that caused a conflict that lasted until May 10 when Pakistan launched a series of attacks inside India.
In 2019, the closure of the airspace after the pulwama attack in the Held Cashmira had caused a loss of around RS7.6 billion in superhufe revenue for the PAA, and then called the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
During the recent confrontation with India, Pakistan brought certain financial losses due to the closure of airspace; However, national sovereignty and defense are considered more important than economic interests, the answer added.
Safeguarding the homeland remains the highest priority. Currently, Pakistan airspace is open for all airlines, except Indian aircraft. Pakistani airlines and airplanes are also prohibited from flying over Indian airspace. Before the tensions of 2019, the average daily revenue of overflow were $ 508,000.
Despite this temporary interruption, the PAA demonstrated financial resilience. When it comes to defending national sovereignty and security, no price is too high. Pakistan’s defense will always remain our main priority, he added.
