Pakistan has authorised China Airlines and EVA Air to use its airspace until March 27, 2027. The approval emerged hours after reports that Islamabad had barred Taiwanese carriers under its One-China policy.
Documents dated October 28 grant both airlines overflight permission from October 28, 2026, through March 27, 2027. The authorisations cover passenger and cargo flights, providing clearance for services that use Pakistan’s airspace between Asia and Europe.
The development followed remarks by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who also oversees aviation. He had said the aviation division followed the One-China policy and permitted only mainland Chinese airlines to cross Pakistani territory.
“We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan,” he said.
However, the approval documents do not mention an earlier restriction or explain whether the authorisations formally reverse a ban. Asif offered no immediate comment after the documents emerged.
Flight-tracking data showed a clear change in the carriers’ operations before the announcement. China Airlines and EVA Air stopped flying over Pakistan from the morning of October 25, according to Flightradar24 data.
At least a dozen flights operated by the two airlines between Asia and Europe subsequently crossed Russian airspace. The alternative routes added flying time and fuel costs.
A day before the route changes, on October 24, the two carriers operated 14 flights over Pakistan. That traffic illustrated the importance of the corridor to their international operations.
Taiwanese airlines had generally avoided Russian airspace since February 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said it had never prohibited its carriers from using those routes.
The administration did not explain the latest rerouting. Both airlines also declined to comment on the initial reports.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi confirmed that Pakistan had briefly closed and reopened its airspace to Taiwanese flights. He attributed the episode to suspected Chinese pressure.
“We suspect definitely China was behind this,” Chen said.
Neither airline independently confirmed the closure or reopening when contacted about the development.
The reported restriction went further than mainland China’s own approach. Beijing allows Taiwanese airlines to cross its airspace, while the carriers also operate direct services between Taiwan and the mainland.
Pakistan maintains close diplomatic and defence ties with China and supports Beijing’s One-China position. China claims Taiwan as its territory, while Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claim.
The latest permissions apply specifically to the two Taiwanese carriers. Pakistan’s separate airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft remain in place until November 24, 2026.
That ban covers Indian-registered aircraft and planes owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines or operators, including military flights. The Pakistan Airports Authority’s latest extension runs until 4:59am Pakistan time on November 24.
It applies to both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions. The previous extension had been due to expire on October 24.
