Pakistan Airspace Closure to Impact Indian Flights

Indian airlines are facing longer flight durations and higher fuel costs after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers on Thursday. This move will likely lead to increased airfares for passengers.

Flights departing from north India, especially those headed to Central Asia, the Caucasus, West Asia, Europe, the UK, and North America, will be directly affected. Flights may need to take longer, more roundabout routes, potentially passing through Gujarat or Maharashtra before heading west.

Industry experts believe this will increase airlines’ operational costs, which will likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher airfares. Airlines from other countries can still overfly Pakistan, potentially giving them a cost advantage over Indian carriers on these routes.

This isn’t the first time Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian carriers. Back in 2019, following the Balakot airstrikes, Indian airlines lost an estimated ₹700 crore due to increased fuel expenses and the complexities of longer routes. Air India, which operates more westbound international flights than other Indian airlines, was the hardest hit then, and is likely to be impacted again.

Air India has already issued a statement acknowledging the situation and assuring passengers that their safety is a top priority. They expect some flights to North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East to take longer routes. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has also issued a travel advisory, informing passengers about potential flight disruptions and advising them to check for updates.

IndiGo has already extended the duration of some flights and canceled others due to the airspace closure. The full financial and operational impact of this decision is still being assessed by Indian airlines. It’s expected to become clearer in the coming days.