Pakistan reopens airspace for civil aviation

The reopening of airspace will benefit airlines flying to India, which had to re-route their flights due to the closure

Pakistan's airspace has been re-opened to civil aviation with immediate effect, its aviation authority said on Tuesday following months of restrictions imposed in the wake of a standoff with neighboring India earlier this year.

"With immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes," according to a so-called Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) published on the authority's website.

An official at the authority reached by telephone confirmed that the change was in effect.

The announcement came hours after United Airlines said it was extending the suspension of its flights from the United States to Delhi and Mumbai in India until October 26, citing continued restrictions of Pakistani airspace.