Your Flight Tickets Might Get Expensive: Pakistan Airspace Closure Could Cost Indian Airlines ₹307 Crore Monthly

Mumbai, 2nd May: Flight tickets on international routes from India, especially from northern cities, could soon become more expensive. The closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian airlines, announced in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, is leading to longer flight paths, increased fuel consumption, and operational delays.

Estimates suggest the move could cost Indian carriers around ₹307 crore every month, with weekly additional expenses reaching ₹77 crore. These costs are likely to be passed on to passengers in the form of higher fares.

Route Disruptions and Operational Changes
IndiGo has realigned some 50 foreign routes to take into account more extended flight patterns. Flights to Tashkent and Almaty have been halted from April 27 and April 28, respectively, through at least May 7, owing to range restrictions of planes on alternate flight routes.

Other Indian carriers, including Air India, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, have not officially announced flight suspensions but continue to face rerouting pressures.

Increased Flying Time and Cost Impact
Flights now require detours that can extend travel time by up to 1.5 hours depending on the destination. This is particularly significant for long-haul routes.

Estimated Cost Impact by Route

These figures include extra fuel usage, possible landing and parking fees for technical stops, and other operational overheads.

Flights Affected and Scale of Disruption
Going by aviation scheduling statistics, Indian carriers were to fly over 6,000 one-way international flights in April. Of these, over 800 weekly flights take off from northern Indian cities, such as Delhi and Amritsar, to destinations in North America, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East.

Bottomline
The closure of airspace in Pakistan is a significant operational and financial challenge for Indian carriers, particularly on long-distance routes. With an increase in costs and flight times, fare increases seem imminent. International travellers from northern India can expect longer travel times and ticket prices in the immediate future.