NEW DELHI: The ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India have wreaked havoc on Indian aviation, as the closure of Pakistan’s airspace grounded over 60 indian flights, causing millions of rupees in losses.
Airlines like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have been hit hard, with flights to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and North America facing longer routes, higher fuel consumption, and expensive diversions. One flight, carrying India’s vice president to Italy, was delayed by 90 minutes due to rerouting.
In addition, long-haul flights such as Air India’s Toronto-Delhi and IndiGo’s Delhi-Tbilisi routes and SpiceJet’s Dubai-Amritsar service have also suffered major delays and cancellations. This disruption is set to affect more than 300 flights weekly at Delhi Airport, one of the busiest in the region.
The closure is also raising operational costs for airlines, as extended flight times and added fuel costs increase the financial burden. A similar airspace shutdown in 2019 led to an estimated loss of $64 million for Indian carriers, and the current disruption is expected to exceed that figure.
This closure, which was triggered by heightened tensions following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, is only affecting Indian-registered aircraft, leaving international flights to India unaffected.
