Pakistan has reversed its decision to bar Taiwanese airlines from using its airspace, granting fresh permission to EVA Airways and China Airlines to resume flights over Pakistan, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday 28 October. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority has authorised the two Taiwanese carriers to use the country's airspace from 28 October 2026 to 27 March 2027, according to the report. No detailed public explanation for the change was available in the reports reviewed.

A ban reversed within days

The reversal came within days of the original restriction, and hours after it was first reported. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had told Bloomberg News that Pakistan's aviation division followed Beijing's One-China policy, saying only mainland China was allowed and that Pakistan had permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan. Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with China, and was reported to be the first country to take such a step against Taiwanese carriers. The restriction went further than mainland China's own rules, which still allow Taiwanese airlines to fly over its territory.

Reroutes over Russia, then a U-turn

Flight-tracking data cited in the reports showed China Airlines and EVA Air had not flown over Pakistan since the morning of 25 October, with at least a dozen Asia-Europe flights rerouted over Russia since Sunday, adding hours and fuel costs to long-haul journeys. On 24 October the two carriers had operated 14 flights that crossed Pakistan. India's foreign ministry weighed in on Wednesday, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal saying that if there are direct India-Taiwan flights, they will fly. Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration did not comment on the rerouting, but said it had never banned its carriers from flying over Russia.

Sources: Bloomberg via Sweden Herald and Centreline (DNA/Bloomberg report).