Pakistan airspace closure to impact Indian airlines, raise costs for westbound flights

Pakistan's decision to close its airspace to Indian carriers from Thursday (24 April) is expected to disrupt westbound international flight operations, forcing Indian airlines to opt for longer routes, increasing fuel consumption, flight duration, and potentially airfares.  

A review by The Indian Express of recent flight paths from Delhi airport indicates that this development will affect Indian carriers operating flights to Central Asia, the Caucasus, West Asia, Europe, the UK, and North America.  

Industry insiders say the financial impact is still being assessed, but operational costs are expected to rise. Foreign carriers, which are still allowed to fly over Pakistan, could gain a cost advantage over Indian airlines on these routes.  

A similar situation in 2019, following India's Balakot airstrikes, led to a prolonged airspace closure by Pakistan, costing Indian airlines nearly ₹700 crore. During that period, Air India was the most affected due to its extensive westbound long-haul operations.  

"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," Air India stated on X.  

IndiGo, which has been rapidly expanding its international network, especially in Central Asia and the Caucasus, also issued a travel advisory.  

"Due to the sudden announcement of air space closure by Pakistan, a few of our international flights are being impacted. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and our teams are doing their best to help you reach your destination at the earliest. We encourage you to check the latest flight status. If your flight is impacted, please explore flexible rebooking options, or claim a refund through our website," IndiGo said.  

On Thursday evening, IndiGo extended flight durations from Delhi to Baku and Tbilisi by around 90 minutes and cancelled its Delhi-Almaty flight.  

While Indian carriers have yet to release financial estimates, sources say the current focus is on route realignments. Flights departing from airports like Delhi, Amritsar, and Lucknow may now need to reroute via Gujarat or Maharashtra before heading west.  

During the 2019 closure, flight times rose by at least 70–80 minutes. Air India flights from Delhi to Chicago had to stop in Europe for refuelling. IndiGo's Delhi–Istanbul route, operated by narrow-body aircraft, also required a refuelling stop in Doha.  

Airlines affected by the closure include Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, all of which operate flights to West Asia, Europe, and beyond.