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4mo ago

Pakistan Closes Airspace to Indian Airlines Following Pahalgam Attack

Indian carriers face longer routes, higher costs, and flight disruptions as the airspace ban remains in effect until May 23.

Air India, IndiGo flights impacted by Pakistan airspace closure.
The DGCA asked the airlines to ensure that all the passengers are informed about the change in routing due to airspace restrictions.
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Regular diplomatic flare-ups between the two nations over decades have prevented close economic ties

Overview

  • Pakistan's airspace closure, effective April 24, was announced in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists.
  • Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, are rerouting flights to Europe, North America, and the Middle East, increasing travel times by up to 2.5 hours.
  • The extended routes are driving up operational costs, with airfares expected to rise by 8–12% due to higher fuel consumption and payload limitations.
  • IndiGo has temporarily canceled flights to Almaty and Tashkent, citing aircraft range constraints on the longer routes, with cancellations lasting until at least May 7.
  • The situation mirrors a similar airspace closure in 2019, which lasted five months and cost Indian airlines over Rs 540 crore in losses.