India airlines not hit yet by Pak restrictions

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started imposing restrictions for India in its airspace. On Wednesday it closed three routes in Karachi airspace for flights up to 26,000 feet till Saturday. However, Indian carriers say that as of now, they are not affected by this restriction.

"Our contingency plans are in place as we have to revert to what we did from February 27 to July 16 when Pakistan airspace was closed for overflying," said a senior official of an Indian carrier about the notice to airmen (

Notam

) issued by

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

on Wednesday. This came a day after Pakistan's science and technology minister Fawad Chaudhry said his country is mulling "complete closure" of its airspace for traffic from India.

The notam said that all Karachi-bound flights will have to abide by the modifications between Thursday and Saturday.