The closure of Pakistan’s airspace is expected to cost Air India around $600 million over the course of a year, Reuters reported, citing a company letter in which the airline urged the government to provide compensation.
Indian airlines are preparing for increased fuel expenses and extended flight durations after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers, a retaliatory move following last week’s attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
In a major development that could cripple the aviation sector, Indian airlines are expected to lose up to $500 million every month after Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian-operated flights. The move comes amidst escalating tensions between the two South Asian neighbors.
What Has Triggered the Ban?
The decision to shut down Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft was planned after a high-level meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee. This ban includes:
• All Indian-registered aircraft
• Planes owned, leased, or operated by Indian companies
• Military flights
The closure is considered to be an integral part of a broader diplomatic fallout sparked by the latest violence in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), for which India blamed Pakistan—an accusation Pakistan refuses.
Read more: Pakistan hits back at India: Trade stopped, banned from using airspace, war warning given
Disruptions to International Flights
Indian carriers that highly depend on Pakistan’s airspace for international routes are now forced to reroute, leading to:
• Longer flight times (by up to 2 hours)
• Increased fuel costs
• Crew fatigue and overtime payments
Impacted Flights Include:
• Air India AI-190 from Toronto, which had to refuel in Copenhagen
• Flights from Paris and London to India, now stopping in Abu Dhabi
• Sharjah-Amritsar flight rerouted near Turbat
• A flight via Gulf of Oman was forced to land in Ahmedabad due to fuel exhaustion
On the first day of the closure, at least 50 Indian flights were directly affected.
A Repeat of 2019’s Costly Fallout
A similar airspace ban occurred in 2019 after the Pulwama attack, costing Indian airlines INR 700 crore (nearly $85 million) in added expenses over several months.
Today’s figures are even more staggering:
• 200–300 Indian flights use Pakistan’s airspace daily
• 70–80 of these are international round-trips
• Monthly loss projections now exceed $500 million
Broader Diplomatic Breakdown
This airspace ban is one of several recent retaliatory actions taken by both nations, including:
• Suspension of special visa agreements
• Closure of the only land border crossing
• Expulsion of defence officials from each other’s embassies
• Reduction in embassy staff
• Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India — a move Pakistan considers an act of war if followed through
No Clear End in Sight
With tensions running high, there is no official word on how long the airspace will remain closed. Aviation experts fear that if the situation drags on, the cumulative damage to Indian airlines and passengers could be historic.