Air India has warned that it could lose as much as $600 million if Pakistan keeps its airspace closed for an entire year. The airline shared this information in a letter sent to the Indian government, where it also asked for financial help to deal with the situation.
Pakistan decided to shut its airspace after an attack took place in Pahalgam, a town in the Kashmir region. Because of this ban, Indian airlines can no longer take their usual, shorter flight paths through Pakistani airspace.
Instead, flights now have to take longer routes to reach their destinations. These extended journeys mean that planes are using much more fuel, leading to much higher operating costs. Flights are also facing frequent delays, making travel less convenient for passengers.
The closure of Pakistan’s airspace has caused serious problems for Indian airlines. They are struggling with increased expenses and complicated scheduling. As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to grow, the challenges for Indian airlines are becoming even more difficult to manage.
The situation has placed a heavy financial burden on the aviation industry, and airlines are hoping that either the airspace will reopen soon or that they will receive support from the government to help them cope with the losses.
