Islamabad issues NOTAM for airspace suspension on Oct 28–29 as India’s “Trishul 2025” exercise looms
Islamabad, Pakistan (Star Struck Times) — The government of Pakistan announced that it will close parts of the airspace over the Karachi (KHI) and Lahore (LHE) flight information regions on October 28 and 29 between 06:00 and 09:00 local time, citing safety concerns ahead of large-scale military drills by neighbouring India.
According to the issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the restricted airspace covers routes connecting the Karachi and Lahore regions and will last for three hours each morning. The move comes in anticipation of India’s tri-service combat exercise named “Trishul 2025”, reportedly set to begin from October 30 along India’s western border with Pakistan.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority Pakistan (CAA) notified airlines and aviation operators of the temporary diversion measures and advised that commercial and cargo flights should plan alternate routes or reschedule accordingly.
Several aviation analysts interpret the closure as a precaution in light of growing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. One source within the aviation industry told us: “We were notified early that airspace would be restricted as part of contingency planning for the drill next door.” A frequent business traveller based in Karachi added: “It’s unusual to see the Karachi corridor shut even for short hours—makes you take the regional security risk more seriously.”
Responding to the announcement, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority said: “This is a routine operational safety measure to ensure continued management of air traffic during heightened regional activity.” Meanwhile, numerous airlines have begun rerouting flights between South Asia and Europe that would typically cross the Pakistani corridor—a change also noted by The Economic Times.
On the Indian side, sources confirming the upcoming “Trishul 2025” exercise say it will involve all three services and be held along India’s western frontier from October 30 through November 10. The closure of Pakistani airspace is being viewed by some analysts as Islamabad’s proactive step to avoid any inadvertent mid-air risk during the live-fire drills.
From a passenger-impact standpoint, the PAA has advised airlines that while normal operations will resume outside the 6am-9am window, routing alternations and possible delays should be anticipated. “We suggest travellers check with their airlines and allow extra buffer time,” the advisory reads.
In the broader context, this development follows a period of strained relations between Pakistan and India. Prior clashes, including the April 2025 attack in Pahalgam and subsequent air-space restrictions, underline how aviation corridors become entwined in the regional security architecture.
Why This Matters:
• The Karachi–Lahore air corridors are critical for trans-regional flights and cargo. Temporary closure—even for a few hours—can ripple through itinerary planning.
• Airlines may incur additional costs from rerouting or holding patterns and could pass such costs to consumers or adjust schedules.
• For Pakistan, repeated air-space restrictions can impact its standing as a reliable transit hub; for India, the military exercise signals operational readiness.
• For the general public and travel sector, vigilance remains key: aviation disruptions amidst military drills are increasingly becoming the “new normal” in South Asia’s security landscape.
FAQs
Q: Which cities does the closure affect?
A: The suspension covers flight regions over Karachi and Lahore between 6 am and 9 am on Oct 28 and 29. Outside those hours, normal operations are expected.
Q: Will international flights be cancelled?
A: Cancellations are not yet confirmed—airlines have been advised to plan alternate routing or schedule changes. Passengers should check with carriers.
Q: Why is this happening?
A: The closure is attributed to safety and air traffic management reasons ahead of India’s large-scale “Trishul 2025” drills near the Pakistan border.
Q: Will this affect cargo flights?
A: Yes, cargo operations within the affected corridors will also need to adjust during the restricted hours.
Q: When will normal airspace resume?
A: Outside the restricted hours of 06:00-09:00 on Oct 28-29, the airspace is expected to return to normal operations.
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