Pakistan on Thursday announced the immediate closure of its airspace to all Indian-owned and Indian-operated airlines.
India on Wednesday announced a series of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan, a day after terrorists killed 26 men at a popular tourist destination in Kashmir, marking the deadliest attack on civilians in the country in nearly two decades.
Pakistan on Thursday announced the closure of its airspace to all Indian-registered aircraft and those owned or leased by Indian operators.
The decision has significant implications for international air traffic, particularly flights operating from Delhi and other northern Indian cities.
With the closure now in effect, west-bound flights from India are forced to reroute over the Arabian Sea, resulting in longer travel times and increased operational costs for airlines.
Some Air India flights had to divert to refuel before resuming to Delhi.
Industry experts estimate that airfares on affected routes could rise by 8–12% in the short term due to higher fuel consumption and potential payload restrictions.
Air India stated, “Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights will take an alternative extended route. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure that is outside our control. The safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority.”
