Pakistan airspace for Taiwan airlines is open again. Documents seen by Dawn show that China Airlines and EVA Air may fly over Pakistan from 28 October 2026 to 27 March 2027, hours after Bloomberg reported that Islamabad had shut its skies to the two Taiwanese carriers in support of Beijing’s One-China policy. For about four days their Asia–Europe flights went around Pakistan. The episode is small in cash terms, but it touches overflight fees, Pakistan’s value as an air corridor and the way foreign businesses read policy signals from Islamabad.
The short version
- Taiwanese flights over Pakistan fell from 14 on 24 October to none from the morning of 25 October, according to Flightradar24 data cited by Bloomberg.
- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg that “only Chinese airlines” had been permitted to fly over Pakistan.
- On Wednesday, Dawn reported that China Airlines and EVA Air have permission to use Pakistani airspace until 27 March 2027.
- The reason for the original restriction, and for the reversal, has not been officially explained.
What happened
Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Pakistan had closed its airspace to Taiwanese carriers, which it described as a first for any country. Flight-tracking data showed that China Airlines and EVA Air began rerouting over the weekend and had not crossed Pakistan since the morning of 25 October. At least a dozen of their Asia–Europe flights flew over Russia from Sunday, a route Taiwanese airlines had largely avoided since February 2022, although they were never formally barred from it. Others were routed through other parts of South Asia and the Middle East, adding hours to some journeys and raising fuel costs, Profit reported.
Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg: “The aviation division follows the One China policy — only mainland China is allowed.” Bloomberg noted that Pakistan’s restriction was stricter than mainland China’s own, which still lets Taiwanese airlines use its airspace. China Airlines and EVA Air declined to comment. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration did not comment on the rerouting but said it has never banned its carriers from flying over Russia. By Wednesday evening, Dawn had updated its story to report the permission running to March 2027.
Taiwan’s Europe flights went around Pakistan, some over Russia
China Airlines and EVA Air flights, by route, 24–28 October 2026 (number of flights)
Why it matters
Pakistan sits on one of the main air corridors between East Asia and Europe, and airlines pay air navigation charges for flights that cross it. Keeping that traffic depends on predictability: carriers plan their seasons months ahead. The new permission ends on 27 March 2027, which matches the end of the airline industry’s northern winter schedule season, so the next test will be the summer season. The quick reversal also shows how closely the Pakistan airspace decision for Taiwan airlines is tied to Pakistan’s relationship with China, whose growing weight in Pakistan’s trade is set out in our analysis of the Pakistan China trade deficit.
The knock-on effects
First order: overflight income and airline costs
For about four days, Pakistan collected no overflight charges from Taiwanese flights, which numbered 14 on 24 October alone, while the two airlines flew longer routes. The amounts involved have not been disclosed, and the reversal limits any loss. For the airlines, detours come at a time of high jet fuel prices, which track crude oil; see our oil price forecast for Pakistan.
Second order: Pakistan’s reputation as an air corridor
Airlines value rules that do not change at short notice. A clear permission to March 2027 restores certainty for this season. Whether it is renewed for the summer season will show whether the policy is settled.
Third order: signals to foreign investors
Foreign companies weigh how quickly policy can move. The episode shows both Pakistan’s close alignment with Beijing on Taiwan, which its leaders have stated repeatedly, and the government’s willingness to revise a decision within days.
Who could benefit
- Pakistan’s aviation authorities: overflight charges resume for the winter season.
- China Airlines and EVA Air: shorter routes and lower fuel burn to Europe.
- Travellers and cargo shippers: fewer delays on Taipei–Europe services.
Who may face pressure
- Airlines planning summer 2027: permission beyond 27 March is not yet known.
- Pakistan’s diplomats: the government must balance its stated One-China position with its role as an open air corridor.
What to watch
- This week: flight-tracking data showing whether Taiwanese flights return to Pakistani airspace.
- Official statements: any explanation from the aviation division or the Foreign Office.
- 27 March 2027: expiry of the current permission and the start of the summer season.
Sources
- Dawn, Pakistan allows Taiwanese airlines to use airspace till March 2027, 28 October 2026
- Daily Pakistan, Pakistan reverses airspace ban, allows Taiwanese airlines to use its skies, 28 October 2026
- Business Recorder, One-China policy: Pakistan bars Taiwan carriers from airspace: report, 28 October 2026
- Profit, Pakistan bars Taiwanese airlines from its airspace, 28 October 2026
- Bloomberg, Pakistan Allows Taiwan Airlines to Use Airspace in Abrupt U-Turn, 28 October 2026
This is analysis, not investment advice. Figures are as of 28 October 2026. Knock-On is not affiliated with any political party.
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