Shut since Balakot strike, Pakistan airspace reopens for civilian operations

New Delhi/Mumbai: Pakistan re-opened its airspace to civilian traffic after more than four months on Tuesday, giving relief to Indian carriers and international passengers hit by lengthy flying times and mounting fares.

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, in a Notice to Airmen (Notam), said the country’s airspace was open to all types of civil traffic on published routes. The airspace was blocked after a non-military airstrike by the Indian Air Force at a terror camp in Balakot on 26 February. In April, Pakistan opened one of its 11 air routes for west-bound flights from India, which Air India started using.

After the restrictions were lifted, SpiceJet operated a direct Jaipur-Dubai flight on Tuesday forenoon overflying Pakistan, one person familiar with the development said, requesting anonymity.