Pakistan closes airspace for Indian aircraft in response to Indian measures
Pakistan’s decision to close its
airspace to Indian airlines is expected to significantly increase both travel
time and operating expenses for carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, and
SpiceJet. Flights to key destinations in the US, UK, Europe, and the Middle
East will now require longer, rerouted paths—leading to higher fuel consumption
and potential delays.
This marks the first such closure
since 2019, when Pakistan shut its airspace for five months following the
Indian Air Force’s Balakot airstrikes. The latest move comes amid rising
geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
“Westbound flights, including those
to the Middle East, Europe, and North America, will be affected,” a senior
airline executive said on condition of anonymity. “Carriers will need to chart
alternate flight paths, which will increase both travel time and operational
costs.”
Read More Pakistan’s airspace equipped with latest radar system
Pakistani airspace is a key corridor
for flights departing India toward western destinations, and vice versa. Indian
airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, along with international
players like British Airways, United Airlines, and Air France, regularly rely
on this air route.
In a statement, Air India confirmed
that some of its flights to North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East
would now be taking longer, alternative routes due to the restriction.
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier by
market share, said some international flights may be impacted. The airline has
offered flexible rebooking options and refunds for affected passengers. “We’re
working to minimise the inconvenience caused by this development,” it added.
SpiceJet noted that its flights to
the UAE from North India will be rerouted and will carry additional fuel to
accommodate the extended flight times. However, the airline said the changes
would not significantly disrupt its schedules.
Read More Pakistan’s airspace is completely safe: PCAA
West Asia represents a major
international market for Indian airlines, with flights connecting not just
metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai but also smaller Indian towns to the region.
During the 2019 closure, Indian
airlines suffered losses exceeding ₹550 crore, according to India’s civil
aviation ministry. Air India alone reported a hit of ₹491 crore, while SpiceJet
lost around ₹31 crore. Pakistan, for its part, forfeited nearly $100 million in
overflight revenue from international carriers.
Source: Financial Express