Islamabad, Apr 30, 2025: India’s leading airlines are facing mounting disruptions and financial strain following Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace to Indian carriers.
The move, in place since 24 April, has impacted nearly 600 westbound international flights in just the first five days, according to a report by Moneycontrol.
The airspace restrictions have forced many Indian flights to take longer alternative routes.
Around 120 of these flights have had to stop mid-journey for refuelling, particularly on routes to Europe and North America, as per data gathered from travel agents and flight tracking services.
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Islamabad’s action followed New Delhi’s response to a deadly attack in Pahalgam on 22 April that claimed at least 26 lives.
Since then, Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo have been rerouting their flights through Mumbai and Ahmedabad before crossing the Arabian Sea via Muscat to reach their destinations.
Before the ban, about 800 Indian-operated international flights per week used Pakistan’s airspace.
Now, flights departing cities like Delhi, Amritsar, and Jaipur are facing delays of up to 45 minutes to the Middle East and up to 90 minutes to Europe, the report said.
Aviation expert Linus Bauer told Moneycontrol that if the closure continues for a month, Indian airlines could suffer losses of $10 to $15 million.
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These losses include not just additional fuel and crew costs, but also revenue hits from cancelled flights and reduced cargo capacity.
Each affected flight is incurring an extra fuel cost of $1,350 to $3,000, with jet fuel already being one of the largest expenses for airlines.
Industry sources indicated that these cost pressures might lead to higher airfares.
Meanwhile, airlines from other countries unaffected by the closure continue to fly through Pakistan, giving them a competitive edge.
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation stated on 28 April that it is working with domestic airlines to assess the situation and consider possible solutions.
