Pakistan’s recent closure of its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated airlines has caused significant disruptions to air travel, forcing carriers like Air India to cancel or reroute flights. This move, which comes in response to New Delhi’s suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, has led to longer flight durations and higher operating costs.
Air India’s routes to the U.S. and Europe will now take detours that could add nearly two hours to travel time. Similarly, other Indian carriers such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India Express will experience delays of 20-30 minutes on flights from New Delhi to the Middle East.
According to airline sources, Air India’s flights to North America will now reroute via Ahmedabad, Muscat, and Iran to bypass Pakistani airspace. This new path may increase flight time by two hours and potentially require a fuel stop in Sharjah, depending on the aircraft’s load.
SpiceJet confirmed that its Gulf-bound flights will carry additional fuel to compensate for the longer routes. The extended flying times also complicate crew schedules, necessitating extra crew for return flights due to mandatory rest periods. The added fuel and operational costs have put a strain on Indian carriers, with Air India expressing regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers.
This is not the first time that Pakistan’s airspace closure has impacted Indian airlines. In 2019, during the aftermath of India’s Balakot air strikes, the prolonged closure resulted in significant financial losses for Air India, amounting to ₹100 crore per month.
Source: Swifteradio.com
