India is facing major air travel disruption — and millions in daily losses — after Pakistan shut down its airspace to Indian aircraft in response to New Delhi’s latest aggressive moves.
The decision is already having a ripple effect on Indian airlines, forcing them into longer, costlier flight routes, especially on transcontinental journeys.
According to aviation sources, the closure of Pakistani airspace has dealt a heavy blow to Indian carriers like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. Flights heading to Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Central Asia now have to take longer detours, significantly increasing travel times and fuel consumption.
For example, flights from Delhi to Baku and Tbilisi are now taking up to 90 minutes longer, and the Delhi-Almaty service has been completely suspended. Flights from North India to the UAE are also experiencing longer durations and higher fuel use. The pressure is particularly intense on routes from Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow.
This rerouting is not just a logistical headache — it’s a financial one too. With more fuel being used and longer flight durations, ticket prices are climbing, adding pressure on both airlines and passengers. Experts estimate that Indian airlines could now be losing crores of rupees each day due to the added fuel costs alone.
This isn’t the first time India has felt the sting of restricted access to Pakistani skies. Back in 2019, following the Balakot strike, Pakistan closed its airspace to India for several months — a move that reportedly cost Indian airlines ₹700 crore (INR).
What’s different now is that the restrictions are tighter and explicitly targeted. As per the latest NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, the ban applies to all Indian-owned or Indian-operated aircraft, including military and leased aircraft.
Meanwhile, foreign airlines flying over Pakistan into or out of India are not affected — a move that could benefit global carriers at India’s expense. With Indian airlines grounded or forced into roundabout routes, international competitors are now in a stronger position to attract passengers on popular long-haul routes.
Indian carriers now need to reroute flights over the Arabian Sea, a change that adds time, costs, and complexity to every journey. Long-haul operations using wide-body jets — particularly those serving Europe and North America — are bearing the brunt of these restrictions.
With 70 to 100 Indian flights crossing Pakistani airspace daily under normal conditions, the impact is widespread and growing.
For now, Pakistan’s airspace remains closed to Indian aircraft, and unless diplomatic ties improve, Indian airlines will continue to bleed financially — all while watching foreign competitors capitalise on the opportunity.
