Pakistan lifts post-Balakot airspace restrictions
Pakistan reopened its airspace to international flights on Tuesday, ending close to five months of acute discomfort for passengers and crippling costs for airlines that were forced to take lengthy detours.
Islamabad’s decision will reduce travel time on flights to the US, Europe, the Gulf and central Asian countries, save fuel and make air tickets cheaper.
Pakistan had closed its airspace on February 26 after India’s air strikes in Balakot in retaliation for the Pulwama massacre on February 14.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) at 12.41am (IST), stating that the country’s airspace had been opened with immediate effect for all types of civil traffic on “published ATS (air traffic service) routes”.
