India-Pakistan Mutual Airspace Closure Extended to May 24, 2026 — Bilateral Aviation Freeze Continues at One-Year Mark

India extended its ban on Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft from using Indian airspace, with a new NOTAM valid through May 24, 2026. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority mirrored the extension with its own NOTAM barring Indian aircraft from Pakistani airspace until May 24. The mutual airspace closures — which have been renewed monthly since the May 2025 Operation Sindoor ceasefire — represent one of the most tangible and economically significant elements of the bilateral freeze. Pakistan Airlines (PIA) and Air India have rerouted all flights to avoid each other's airspace, adding 3–4 hours to Karachi-London and Delhi-London routes. Defence Security Asia reported a separate incident in which a Gulfstream G450 allegedly linked to Pakistan briefly entered Indian-controlled airspace, triggering a diplomatic complaint from New Delhi. The airspace closure is one of six ongoing elements of the post-Sindoor bilateral freeze alongside: Indus Waters Treaty suspension, all direct trade halt, no ambassador exchange (Chargé d'Affaires level only), SAARC effectively paralyzed, and Wagah-Attari border crossing closed. No timetable for normalization of any of these measures has been indicated by either side as of May 11, 2026.