The closure of Pakistan’s airspace for Indian aircraft has now reached its 10th day, causing serious problems for Indian airlines and their passengers. More than 1,000 flights have been affected so far, as airlines struggle to deal with longer travel times and sudden route changes.
Major Indian carriers like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air are among the hardest hit. These airlines are facing huge financial losses, with estimates suggesting they have already lost over Rs. 2 billion. The main reasons for these losses are higher fuel costs, longer detours around Pakistani airspace, and cancellations of many scheduled flights.
Flights going to popular destinations like Dubai and countries in Central Asia are experiencing major delays. In some cases, flights that would normally take a few hours are now taking up to 10 additional hours to complete because of the need to avoid Pakistani airspace.
Passengers are also suffering because of this situation. Many flights have been canceled at short notice, often without offering refunds to travelers. On top of that, because flights are taking much longer, airlines are having to replace flight crews in European cities, which adds to their daily operating costs and makes the situation even more expensive.
This is not the first time Indian airlines have faced such trouble. A similar situation occurred in 2019 when Pakistan closed its airspace for several months, causing Indian airlines to lose around Rs. 7 billion at that time.
As the airspace closure continues, both airlines and passengers are hoping for a resolution soon. Until then, travelers are advised to stay updated with their airlines and prepare for possible delays or changes to their plans.
