Airspace closure along Indian border extended to June 15
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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s airspace along its eastern border with India will remain closed until 5am on June 15, a notice issued to airmen (NOTAM) by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said on Wednesday.
According to the notice, Pakistani airspace will be closed until June 14 at 23.59 (UTC) universal time. There is a difference of five hours between UTC and Pakistan time.
As per a separate NOTAM issued by the CAA, the Panjgoor airspace would remain open for overflying transit flights from the western side as Air India had already been using that airspace.
Pakistan had given a special permission to India for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to fly directly though Pakistani airspace to participate in a top-level meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21. However, the airspace for other commercial airliners remained closed.
Foreign carriers using Indian airspace have been forced to take costly detours because they cannot fly over Pakistan. The closure mainly affects flights from Europe to Southeast Asia.
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had said that due to closure of eastern side airspace, Pakistan was suffering from less loss compared to India as Indian commercial flights had to take longer routes for Europe.
On May 15, Pakistan extended its airspace ban for flights to India till May 30 as foreign flights using Indian airspace were not allowed to cross over Pakistan till May 30.
It has been more than two and a half months since the airspace was closed for commercial flights but, there was no progress in lifting of the ban either by Pakistan or India.
Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2019
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Comments (78) Closed
May 30, 2019 09:04am
How exactly Pakistan is suffering from less loss as compared to India and what exactly is Pakistan losses not all flight goes west and flights pay for using airspace . And how much India is earning as most of flight now use Indian airspace !!
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May 30, 2019 09:06am
Please mention that India had also permitted the Pakistani Foreign Minister to use the Indian airspace to fly to Male and Colombo , before such a reciprocal gesture by Pakistan. Its a different matter that the Pakistani Foreign Minister's itinerary was hampered by the incidents in Sri Lanka.
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May 30, 2019 09:09am
Just keep it close for good!
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May 30, 2019 09:16am
Since the Indian economy is 10x than ours, they can absorb loss. Pakistan at this point needs business to increase it's GDP. Hence a rational decision should be taken.
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May 30, 2019 09:21am
Only the people of both Pak and Ind are affected by airspace closure. But the VVIP ministries of both countries are enjoying shortcuts. Wat a pity.
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May 30, 2019 09:37am
It's not going to affect india much, India also has closed it's airspace for pakistani planes. Comparing size of both countries, it will affect pakistan more than india. So, take steps wisely.
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May 30, 2019 09:44am
Open up all that space.
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May 30, 2019 09:45am
India has not placed any restriction - there was no progress in lifting of the ban either by Pakistan or India.
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May 30, 2019 09:57am
Agree with Nasir.
Keep closed.
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May 30, 2019 10:03am
Pakistan did it many times so this weapon is not much effective as it used to be . It affects the passengers who travel from or to Europe as airlines increase the fair but they are the one which can easily afford this increase. Secondly all Mumbai bound flights don't take this route. I can't see any efforts from Indian side which says it all that it is Pakistan's loss which get dollars in exchange of someone use their airspace.
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May 30, 2019 10:05am
@Nasir, "Just keep it close for good!"
The closure is mutual. Go figure who is not in a position to incur losses. And see on the map who has to take a longer route to bypass the other country.
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May 30, 2019 10:21am
The aeroplane hub of Karachi is empty. After seeing the title and the picture it's all easy to draw the conclusion.
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May 30, 2019 10:30am
Please let ban continues till 60yrs both countries don’t allow each other airspace its good focus on thier own its it’s good for both countries even recall high commissions
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May 30, 2019 10:30am
Closure of AirSpace could be effected badly on PIA flights it could lose more foreign tourists, Pakistan is now suffering more and more, it is really pity that the civil authorities only thinking for themself and no care for nation interest.
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May 30, 2019 10:37am
"Pakistan was suffering from less loss compared to India as Indian commercial flights had to take longer routes for Europe."
But the thing to understand is that whether the losses to both India and Pakistan affect them equally or one will be hurt more due to crippling of economy.
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May 30, 2019 10:39am
We must make india experience the consequences of its immoral and misguided actions. Indian airlines are suffering tremendously to the tune of billions of rupees. This must continue until india ends it support of state sponsored terrorism against Pakistan and the people of Azad and indian occupied Kashmir.
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May 30, 2019 10:41am
@Aamir, Pakistan economy is twice that of the formal calculated economy, the informal, non regulated sectors are huge, the new base year of GDP calculations will give the right figures.
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May 30, 2019 11:10am
Just what is the logic..I fail to understand of closing airspace.
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May 30, 2019 11:14am
India is in position where it can afford kt. But not Pakistan. Foolishness is directly proportional to bankruptcy.
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May 30, 2019 11:16am
And Pakistan want to follow Malaysian example of tourism. Who will come to Pakistan with airline unfriendly policies?
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May 30, 2019 11:31am
Keep it closed to avoid any misadventures by India
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May 30, 2019 11:37am
@Aamir, India has much higher debt and trade deficit, they are suffering more.
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May 30, 2019 11:51am
Good keep it up, what are we trying to hide here? They have satellites to map the whole area, doesn't make much sense, nevermind, if this is what our authorities want, let them do it. By the way, is it only for Indian planes or for all planes like Emirates, British Airways, etc?
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May 30, 2019 11:52am
@Aamir, Yes, Pakistan is losing out on huge forex that would come from overflight charges.
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May 30, 2019 12:05pm
Another golden opportunity lost by pakistan to mend the ties with India.
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May 30, 2019 12:09pm
Poor Indian passengers Will have to arrive 4 to 5 hours late now.
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May 30, 2019 12:11pm
We should stop this childish play and open our airspace. Air India is losing more than PIA.
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May 30, 2019 12:21pm
@Aamir,
Funny comment. It is not the size of the economy but the GDP per capita that matters, and the GDP per capita of Pakistan and India are the same. Indian airlines and passengers are feeling the hate from India's own hate work because their most important routes are hindered.
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May 30, 2019 12:22pm
Simple solution. India should de-escalate or continue facing the music. Pakistan has zero problem as all our major routes are unaffected.
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May 30, 2019 12:25pm
And IK speaks about small hearts. While India still issues medical visas to the needy in Pakistan
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May 30, 2019 12:25pm
@Doctor DJ, You are mistaken, I suggest to make it permanent.
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May 30, 2019 12:26pm
We should make India suffer. They should know the cost of avoiding pakistan
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May 30, 2019 12:29pm
According report from April 29, India suffered 3 billion Indian rupees losses as a result of air space closure.
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May 30, 2019 12:32pm
Are you sure the picture is of current Karachi International Airport !! It looks like a picture taken in early 80s. Why there is no air traffic. It looks like an old haunted bus terminal.
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May 30, 2019 12:43pm
Life will go on in India, meanwhile it's become impossible to fly between Pakistan and East Asia without first going to the Middle East, and airlines like Thai, Malindo and Sri Lankan have stopped flying to Pakistan altogether. Great job Pakistan!
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May 30, 2019 12:54pm
@Hafeez, or by Pakistan?
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May 30, 2019 01:19pm
Why this much fear?
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May 30, 2019 01:26pm
Good so that no other Indian air force is forced to shoot our innocent trees!
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May 30, 2019 01:43pm
@Jimmy, Not difficult to ascertain, India suffers most.
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May 30, 2019 01:49pm
Just keep it closed forever
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May 30, 2019 02:08pm
@Jimmy, what India is gaining from loss of Pakistan will be visible in few month when 3 big Indian airlines will file for bankruptcy.
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May 30, 2019 02:13pm
India wanted to teach Pakistan a “lesson”. Let’s keep it closed for a year or so.
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May 30, 2019 02:25pm
Less loss? Oxymoron.
Just open the airspace already. Focus on Pakistan.
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May 30, 2019 02:29pm
@Jimmy, no actually india is suffering more from their own restrictions as there are more flights originating from india
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May 30, 2019 02:38pm
Pakistani airspace should be closed until they install some new equipment to better detect infiltration along Indian borders. I think that is the reason why it is closed and once that equipment is installed it would open again.
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May 30, 2019 02:42pm
Never trust these Indians. Keep it closed till India behaves.
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May 30, 2019 02:47pm
@Nasir, Agree 100%
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May 30, 2019 02:51pm
Better safe than sorry.
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May 30, 2019 02:51pm
@Hafeez , looks like you've solved the problem! Just tell Indian warplanes that they are not allowed into this airspace.
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May 30, 2019 02:52pm
@Aamir, Bhai Aamir, not many in Pakistan are capable of making rational decisions. And those who can, are made redundant.
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May 30, 2019 02:58pm
Is it wise to keep the airspace closed? On one hand Pakistan talking about making peace where as on other hand they closed the airspace just to hurt India. This will hurt Pakistan more than India in sort or long term.
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May 30, 2019 02:58pm
If you see the flight tracker you can see the profit India is making because of all the flights flying through Indian airspace. Life goes on and people move on.
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May 30, 2019 02:59pm
Oh, they will come begging to you.
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May 30, 2019 03:13pm
@Hafeez , Agree 100%. Keep it closed permanently to all and sundry. Teach them all a lesson.
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May 30, 2019 03:14pm
Pakistan's civil aviation authority losing overflying transit fee revenues since all international airlines are skirting around bypassing Pakistan airspace and joining Indian airspace flying over Arabian Sea.
Check www.flightradar24.com !
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May 30, 2019 03:23pm
India will not starve to death by this move. War mongering and hawkish attitude on both sides notwithstanding. Childish behavior by both countries.
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May 30, 2019 03:27pm
Excellent..keep it closed.
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May 30, 2019 03:36pm
@Zak, and 2.65 trillion economy too with 500billion $ reserve. it can easily repay its debt with the reserves but that not world economics work. China and US have trillions of $ debts.
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May 30, 2019 03:38pm
@Fact, but we have the money. What about Pakistan.
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May 30, 2019 03:39pm
@Mateen, till hell freezes over.
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May 30, 2019 04:14pm
Don't complain about tomatoes and lemons now, stick with the Pakistani govt.
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May 30, 2019 04:16pm
@Shahrukh Inayat Yusufzai, “Childish behavior by both countries“
No, childish behavior on display only by RSS
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May 30, 2019 04:43pm
We should try to engage India in talks for peaceful resolution of all matters instead of closing our borders to them.
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May 30, 2019 04:57pm
Why for one month now close it for next 5 years as you cannot expect what comes next.
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May 30, 2019 05:21pm
@Sami Ullah, Ask the Pak government to come out and say to media correct news. Why not open the site where the actual place the things happen. No good to take the press after a month.
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May 30, 2019 05:22pm
@zak, but India has higher debt servicong capability than Pakistan.
For instance P&G has higher debt than a person who has a home loan but has lost his job. Please think who is in a better position.
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May 30, 2019 05:30pm
It needs to be permanently closed for security measures. After all it was Indian jets that violated Pakistan's air space in first place.
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May 30, 2019 05:45pm
Keep it close. Start using trains, buses or camels
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May 30, 2019 05:55pm
Indians said Pakistan is losing a lot. I think 3 months pain to Indians is worth little bit losing of money.
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May 30, 2019 06:34pm
Pakistan us losing tons of money on rents they get for allowing foreign airlines to fly over their territory. Valuable easy foreign exchange loss.
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May 31, 2019 03:23pm
@Doctor DJ, pakistan is not affected much because PIA has only 5 Aircrafts and they hardly flying rights to east asia
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May 31, 2019 04:24pm
@Zak, India is six times bigger than Pakistan so it can carry higher debt. Fair comparison is on the basis of per capita.
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May 31, 2019 04:28pm
@Zak, India is 13th in the list of countries by debt.
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May 31, 2019 04:35pm
@Sabir, Punjab Pakistan , India is much bigger than Pakistan. So, they also think the same way about Pakistan.
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May 31, 2019 04:59pm
Article clearly forget to mention that Pakistani FM plane flew over Indian airspace to reach maldives and srilanka recently.
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May 31, 2019 06:18pm
Why is Pakistan too scared?
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May 31, 2019 08:01pm
@Zak, USA is having much higher trade deficit and debt compared to India and Pakistan. Does it mean that USA is poorer than these two countries?
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May 31, 2019 10:41pm
What type of technologies these countries have if they can not differentiate a commercial plane from a war plane?
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