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India's leading carriers, Air India and IndiGo, are now grappling with increased fuel expenses and extended flight durations after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, according to a Reuters report. The decision follows a surge in tensions between the two nations after a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this week that claimed 26 lives.
India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim Islamabad strongly denies. In the wake of the escalating diplomatic row, both countries have initiated retaliatory measures. While India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—a crucial agreement on river water sharing—Pakistan has barred Indian aircraft from flying through its airspace.
Although international carriers remain unaffected, Indian airlines are already experiencing operational challenges. Flights to destinations such as New York, Dubai, and Azerbaijan, which typically pass through Pakistani airspace for efficiency, are now being diverted, leading to longer flight times and increased fuel consumption.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is expected to face the greatest impact, as it is a major hub for long-haul flights to Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
An aviation source noted that Air India’s Middle East routes may now take up to an hour longer, resulting in higher fuel usage and reduced cargo capacity due to the additional weight of fuel.
Air India confirmed that several of its services to the UK, North America, Europe, and the Middle East will be rerouted. In a post on X, the airline stated: “Due to the recently announced airspace restrictions by Pakistan for all Indian carriers, some Air India flights to and from North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East will now operate on extended routes.”
IndiGo also confirmed that “a few” of its flights will also be affected.
Ajay Awtaney, founder of an aviation-focused website, noted that Air India is likely to be the most affected by Pakistan’s airspace ban, given its extensive network of long-haul international routes.
This development adds further strain to India’s aviation industry, which is already dealing with delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus.
An Indian airline pilot told the outlet that carriers now have to adjust flight schedules, reassess flying hours, and reorganize crew rosters to comply with aviation regulations.
For instance, IndiGo’s flight from Delhi to Baku on Thursday took 5 hours and 43 minutes using a detour through Gujarat and Iran. In contrast, the same flight took just 5 hours and 5 minutes on Wednesday when it flew the usual route through Pakistani airspace, according to data from FlightAware.
Pakistan has announced that the airspace restriction will remain in place until May 23. A similar airspace closure in 2019 resulted in losses of at least $64 million for Indian airlines, according to the Indian government.
Source: India Today
