Pakistan Issues Overflight Permits for Taiwanese Airlines Through March 2027

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued overflight schedules for Taiwan-based China Airlines and EVA Air covering October 28, 2026, to March 27, 2027, according to documents reviewed by Dawn.

The permits emerged hours after Bloomberg reported, citing Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, that Pakistan’s aviation policy allowed only mainland Chinese airlines to use its airspace. The CAA documents do not explain whether the permissions represent a reversal of a previous restriction.

Dawn reported that a CAA source said the authority had not issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing a ban on the two carriers. A diplomatic source also told the newspaper that overflight permissions had been extended and denied that a policy change had taken place.

The conflicting accounts created uncertainty about whether Pakistan had formally barred Taiwanese airlines before issuing the new schedules. The available documents confirm permission for the airlines to operate flights through Pakistani airspace during the stated period, but do not describe an earlier ban.

Flight-tracking data cited in media reports showed that China Airlines and EVA Air had stopped flying over Pakistan from October 25. At least a dozen flights between Asia and Europe were reported to have used routes over Russia after the change.

The airlines did not comment on the rerouting, while Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration did not explain the route changes. The permits run through March 27, 2027; the documents do not say whether the airlines have resumed using Pakistani airspace.