Airspace restrictions across the Middle East amid the war involving Iran have disrupted international operations of Indian airlines already affected by a ban on flying over Pakistan.

 

The region serves as a key corridor for flights from India to Europe and the United States. With parts of Middle Eastern airspace closed due to the conflict, airlines have been forced to reschedule or reroute flights. 

 

The restrictions come as Indian carriers remain unable to use Pakistani airspace, leaving them with limited routing options.

 

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows that the country’s two largest international carriers, Air India and IndiGo did not operate 64 per cent of their 1,230 scheduled flights to the Middle East, Europe and North America over the past ten days.

 

Aviation analyst Amit Mittal said that the situation is affecting airlines operating international routes. “It is a double whammy for Indian airlines which fly international routes,” he said.

 

Pakistan barred Indian airlines from its airspace in April last year following military tensions between the two countries.

 

Financial services firm The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) said last week that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East would place pressure on costs and profitability of Indian carriers. 

 

The bank estimated that seven days of cancellations on affected routes could reduce its annual profit-before-tax forecast for airlines by 1.2 percent.

 

While some routes have resumed, IndiGo has faced operational problems linked to aircraft used on its long-haul services. The airline relies on six long-range aircraft leased from Norse Atlantic Airways to operate flights to Europe. Because the aircraft remain registered in Norway, they must follow an advisory from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency that asks airlines to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

 

As a result, IndiGo has been routing some flights through Africa. Data from Flightradar24 shows that the changes have increased flight times by up to two hours in some cases.

 

One IndiGo flight from Delhi to Manchester returned to Delhi after air traffic control in Eritrea declined airspace use due to confusion over how a Norse-registered aircraft was being used by the airline, according to a source familiar with the matter. IndiGo said the aircraft returned after 13 hours in the air due to “last-minute airspace restrictions.”

 

Another IndiGo aircraft travelling from London to Mumbai faced a similar issue and diverted to Cairo.

 

Air India said on Monday it would operate 78 additional flights between India and Europe and the United States during the coming week in response to demand linked to the conflict.

 

Air India, owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has previously estimated that the Pakistan airspace ban could cost the airline about $600 million annually. 

 

The carrier reported losses of $433 million last year. Longer flight routes increase fuel consumption, adding to operating costs as oil prices rise during the conflict.