Pakistan on Wednesday extended the ban on the use of its airspace for flights from and passing through India by a fortnight.
The earlier NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority was until 3.30 p.m. on May 30. It has been replaced by a new one effective until 5.30 a.m. on June 15, a senior official of the Civil Aviation Ministry said.
According to data maintained by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a total of six airlines, majority of them from Central Asian countries, have cancelled as many as 33 weekly flights from Delhi.
However, in what can be seen as a sign of de-escalation of tensions, the IAF has written to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to revoke restrictions imposed by it for certain regions in response to Pakistan’s ban. “The IAF issued a letter to AAI on Wednesday that there are no restrictions on airspace from our end,” a defence source said.
The AAI is expected to revoke its earlier NOTAM and issue a new one in the next couple of days.
A Civil Aviation Ministry official said that after Pakistan lifted the ban, it will take nearly 14 hours to resume normal operations.
(With inputs from
Dinakar Peri)
COMMents
SHARE