Indian Air Force Lifts Temporary Restrictions Imposed On Usage Of Airspace During Balakot Airstrike

The temporary restrictions imposed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on all air routes stand lifted as of Friday (31 May). The removal of the restrictions came as an immediate decision after the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi took charge for his second term of five years, reports Indian Express.

The IAF had imposed the said restrictions on all routes a day after its 12 Mirage 2000s crossed over to Pakistan and attacked JeM terrorist training camps in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The development comes at the backdrop of Pakistan having extended the ban on India using its airspace for commercial flights till 14 June. Since the restrictions had come up, foreign carriers using Indian airspace have been forced to take costly detours because they cannot fly over Pakistan.

Given Pakistan lies in the middle of a vital aviation corridor, the restrictions on usage of its airspace has impacted hundreds of commercial flights each day, extending flight timings for passengers, as well as fuel costs for airline from and to Europe and Southeast Asia.