Pakistan Airspace Closure Impacts India Flights
The closure is part of a broader escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, with significant implications for the aviation industry and passengers traveling between the two countries. Airlines are advising customers to check their flight status regularly for updates on schedule adjustments, rebooking, and refund options.
Pakistan's airspace closure is causing significant disruptions to Indian airlines' flights to Europe and North America, with some journeys taking up to four hours longer due to detours, and airlines are advising customers to monitor their flight status for schedule adjustments.
The closure, caused by rising tensions between India and Pakistan, has led to Air India adding a fuel stop in Europe on flights to and from North America, while IndiGo has suspended some flights to Central Asia. The detour is adding up to four hours to passengers' journeys, with flights from India to the US now taking up to 18 hours. Air India has confirmed that some flights are now stopping in Vienna for fuel, and other airlines are seeing similar impacts.
The airlines are working to adjust their schedules and mitigate the effects of the closure, which is expected to impact around 1,200 flights per month from New Delhi. SpiceJet and IndiGo have also reported longer flight times, with 50 international routes affected by IndiGo. The ban, imposed until May 23, will force flights to take longer routes, increasing fuel costs and reducing cargo capacity.
The tensions between India and Pakistan are escalating, with India considering closing its airspace to Pakistani Airlines and banning Pakistani ships from Indian ports as retaliatory measures after the Pahalgam attack in India-held Kashmir. Pakistani carriers have started avoiding Indian airspace, anticipating potential action. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the attack, questioning witnesses and recreating the scene.
As the situation continues to unfold, Indian airlines are scrambling to assess the impact of the airspace closure and adjust their flight plans accordingly. The effects of the closure are being felt across the industry, with airlines working to minimize disruptions to their customers.