Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Airlines

Pakistan has recently announced the extension of its airspace ban on Indian airlines until January 24. This decision has further complicated the already tense aviation relations between the two neighboring countries. The ban, which was initiated in April following the Pahalgam terror attack, has forced Indian carriers to reroute their flights, leading to increased operational costs and longer travel times for passengers.

Since the ban was first put in place, approximately 800 weekly flights operated by Indian airlines have been affected. These flights, which typically travel from North India to various destinations including West Asia, Europe, and North America, are now forced to take longer routes. This has resulted in increased flight durations, with journeys extended by anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the destination. The rise in flight times not only increases fuel consumption but also complicates crew and flight scheduling, ultimately raising operational costs for the airlines.

In response to the ongoing challenges posed by the airspace closure, Indian airline Air India has sought assistance from the Indian government to persuade China to allow the use of sensitive military airspace in Xinjiang. The aim is to shorten flight routes and mitigate the financial toll resulting from the closure of Pakistani airspace. It is estimated that this ban could cost Air India around ₹4,000 crore annually.

While the impact of India’s airspace closure on Pakistan has been relatively minimal, as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates a limited number of international flights, the situation is quite different for Indian airlines. Major Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo operate numerous international flights to countries west of India, many of which previously overflew Pakistan. With the closure, IndiGo had to suspend flights from Delhi to Central Asian cities like Almaty and Tashkent.

Data from aviation analytics shows that around 400 weekly international departures from North Indian airports have been affected due to Pakistan’s ban. This results in a significant total when considering the return legs of these flights, amounting to approximately 800 affected flights weekly.

The financial implications for Indian airlines are substantial. In the past, during a four-month closure of Pakistani airspace in 2019, Indian carriers faced estimated losses of around ₹700 crore. The costs were primarily driven by increased fuel expenses and operational difficulties due to the detours. Air India, which had the most international flights affected, faced the brunt of these losses.

As the situation continues, it remains to be seen how both nations will navigate these challenges. The ongoing airspace bans not only reflect the strained diplomatic ties but also highlight the economic ramifications on their respective aviation sectors.