Indian airlines to lose millions after Pakistan shuts its airspace: report

With Pakistan having imposed tit-for-tat diplomatic measures, including shutting down its airspace for Indian planes, India fears that it will cost airlines millions in losses. Carriers now face longer durations and higher fuel consumption for westward international flights taking off from northern India.

According to details, after India's 2019 border violation of entering Pakistan, Pakistan closed its airspace on February 26, 2019, leading to losses of around ₹700 crore INR amid to operational complications that came with longer routes, which many of their flights were forced to take.

With routes closed in 2019, most flights witnessed their durations rise by at least 70–80 minutes, with Air India’s flights from Delhi to Chicago having to stop in Europe for refuelling.

In July 2019, Pakistan eventually fully opened its airspace for overflying.

According to data provided by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation at the time, the collective loss of Indian airlines due to the airspace closure by June was estimated to be more than ₹550 crore INR.

The figure, according to industry insiders, rose to ₹700 crore INR by mid-July of that year, when Pakistan completely removed the restrictions.

Pakistan’s retaliatory action will affect Indian carriers’ flights to Central Asia, the Caucasus, West Asia, Europe, the UK, and North America, a leading Indian English outlet has claimed while reviewing the recent Indian flight paths of multiple international flights departing from Delhi.

The media report quoted industry insiders as stating that, as airlines from other countries can continue to overfly Pakistan, they may gain a cost advantage over Indian airlines on the affected routes.

Analysts suggest that Air India will be severely affected, as it operates most west-bound international routes, including those to North America.

On Thursday, Air India took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that it will take an alternate route following the closure of Pakistani airspace for India.

“Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an alternative extended route. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure that is outside our control. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority,” the airline wrote on X.