All foreign airlines resume flying over Pakistan except Air France: PAA

After the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India, all foreign airlines except Air France have resumed flying over Pakistani airspace, Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) officials said.

Air France continues to divert its flights, leading to substantial additional fuel expenses.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has decided to extend the closure of its airspace for Indian flights by another month.

Under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, airspace restrictions can be applied for only one month at a time, requiring periodic extensions. India had closed its airspace to Pakistan flights on April 23, prompting a reciprocal move by Islamabad the next day.

Earlier this month, amid military clashes between Pakistan and India several major international carriers, including Swiss Air, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Emirates, suspended use of Pakistani airspace due to heightened security risks.

As a result, flights to Indian cities such as Amritsar, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai were rerouted, extending travel times and raising operational costs.

The PAA officials said that since the ceasefire, airlines such as Swiss Air, Lufthansa, British Airways, Etihad, and Emirates have resumed normal operations and are once again flying through Pakistani airspace.

Flights heading to India and other destinations are now using the more direct routes over Pakistan. Despite the return to normalcy for many carriers, Air France flights to Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai continue to avoid Pakistan's airspace.

This ongoing diversion has resulted in millions of dollars in additional fuel expenses for the French airline.

According to aviation sources, other Air France flights to various countries are also bypassing Pakistan.