Indian airlines to suffer $500m monthly loses after Pakistan airspace ban

The aviation experts have said that Indian airlines are likely to suffer losses of $500 million per month after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian-operated aircraft, reported 24NewsHDTV Channel. 

Pakistan’s restriction on Indian flights are adding flight time, fuel costs, and operational complications. 

During the previous closure following the Pulwama attack in 2019, it cost Indian airlines 700 crore Indian rupee in extra operational costs. 

Flights such as Air India’s AI-190 from Toronto were diverted to Copenhagen for refueling, while another flight from Paris to Delhi and AI-162 from London to India had to refuel in Abu Dhabi. 

A Sharjah-Amritsar flight was also rerouted near Turbat, while another Indian aircraft en route to India had to land in Ahmedabad after traversing the Gulf of Oman due to fuel issues. The Pakistani airspace closure was implemented shortly after a high-level meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad. All Indian-registered, owned, leased or operated aircraft, including military flights, are banned from entering Pakistani airspace. 

An estimated 200 to 300 Indian flights use Pakistan’s airspace daily, including around 70 to 80 round-trip international services from airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express. The closure is expected to add up to two hours of flight time per route, spike fuel consumption and crew costs. 

On the day of the airspace shutdown alone, reportedly 50 Indian flights were impacted. The duration of the airspace closure remains uncertain.