Pakistan’s airspace on its eastern border with India will remain closed until June 14, a civil aviation official said.This is the latest extension months after a stand-off between the two nations.Pakistan closed its airspace in February following a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which led to aerial bombing missions on each other’s soil and a fighter dogfight over Kashmir.Foreign carriers using Indian airspace have been forced to take costly detours because they cannot fly over Pakistan.The closure mainly affects flights from Europe to destinations in southeast Asian.“The closure will continue until June 14,” a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority told Reuters, without giving further details.Pakistan lies in the middle of a vital aviation corridor.The airspace restrictions impact hundreds of commercial and cargo flights each day, adding flight time for passengers and fuel costs for airlines.
May 30, 2019 | 01:03 AM