Overview
- Pakistan's airspace closure, effective until at least May 23, forces Indian airlines to reroute flights to Europe, North America, and the Middle East, increasing flight times and costs.
- Indian carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, have added technical refueling stops on long-haul routes, causing delays of up to six hours for some flights.
- IndiGo has temporarily suspended flights to Central Asian destinations like Almaty and Tashkent due to aircraft range limitations caused by the longer routes.
- Pakistan anticipates significant financial losses from overflight fees, with estimates suggesting a potential revenue hit of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
- The Indian government is working with airlines to address operational challenges, prioritizing passenger safety and exploring alternative routes.