Pakistan has granted China Airlines and EVA Air permission to use its airspace until March 27, 2027, following several days of confusion over whether Taiwanese carriers had been barred.
Documents reported by Pakistani media show that the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority issued overflight schedules covering:
October 28, 2026 to March 27, 2027.
The development came shortly after Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif was reported as saying the aviation division followed Pakistan’s One-China policy and that only mainland Chinese carriers could use Pakistani airspace.
Was There Actually a Formal Ban?
This is where the story requires careful wording.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority told Dawn that it had not issued a NOTAM formally announcing a ban on Taiwanese airlines.
A diplomatic source also denied that such a policy decision had been made.
Therefore, it is safer to say that the airlines temporarily stopped using Pakistani airspace amid uncertainty over policy, followed by confirmation that overflight permission had been extended.
Calling it simply a formally imposed “ban reversed within hours” goes beyond what the available aviation documentation confirms.
Which Airlines Can Use Pakistan’s Airspace?
The two Taiwanese carriers are:
China Airlines
and
EVA Air.
Their new overflight schedules run until:
March 27, 2027.
Flights Had Been Rerouted
Flight-tracking information cited in reports showed the two airlines stopped flying through Pakistani airspace from around October 25.
Some Asia-Europe services were instead routed through Russian airspace, increasing journey distance and operating costs.
The airlines had previously avoided Russian airspace since 2022, although they were not legally prohibited from using it.
What Did Pakistan’s Aviation Minister Say?
Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif was reported as saying that Pakistan’s aviation division follows the One-China policy and that only mainland China was permitted.
Pakistan officially recognises the People’s Republic of China and does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
However, the subsequent PCAA schedules and comments from aviation and diplomatic sources created uncertainty over whether the minister’s statement reflected an implemented airspace restriction.
Why Does Pakistani Airspace Matter?
Pakistani airspace provides an important route between East Asia and Europe.
For some flights, avoiding Pakistan can require longer routes, adding:
- flying time;
- fuel consumption;
- operating costs; and
- scheduling complexity.
This is why even short-term changes in overflight permission can have operational consequences for long-haul airlines.
Is Pakistan’s Airspace Still Closed to Indian Airlines?
Yes.
Pakistan’s separate restriction on Indian-operated aircraft remains in effect until:
November 24, 2026
under the current extension.
That is a separate policy from the Taiwanese-airline issue.
