The reopening of airspace will benefit civil aviation and airlines of India, who previously had to re-route their flights due to Pakistan blocking its airspace.
The Government of Pakistan has opened its airspace to civil aviation with immediate effect, its Aviation Authority said on July 16, 2019.
The move came following months of restrictions imposed in the wake of an airspace ban for Indian flights.
“With immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes,” according to a so-called Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) published on ATS website.
The announcement came hours after United Airlines said it was extending the suspension of its flights from the United States to Delhi and Mumbai in India until October 26, citing continued restrictions of Pakistani airspace.
The move is expected to give a major relief to Air India, which suffered a huge financial loss of around Rs 491 crore as it had to re-route its various international flights due to the closure of the Pakistan airspace.
“Pakistan has permitted all airlines to fly through its airspace from around 12.41 am today. Indian airline operators will start using normal routes through Pakistan airspace soon,” the sources told PTI.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) at around 12.41 am Indian Standard Time, stating that “with immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (air traffic service) routes”.
Post the airstrike, Air India had to re-route, merge or suspend many of its international flights that connect India with European and US cities.
Also read: http://diplomacybeyond.com/chandrayaan-2-indias-second-lunar-missions-launch-postponed/