Pakistan Airspace Ban: Indian Airlines Face $500 Million Monthly Hit

Indian airlines are now facing a massive financial setback after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian-operated aircraft. This move is expected to cost Indian carriers up to $500 million every single month. The ban comes at a time of already tight margins for the aviation industry and is causing major disruptions for long-haul international flights.

Flights Rerouted, Costs Skyrocket

With Pakistan’s airspace now off-limits, Indian airlines are being forced to take longer, less direct routes for many of their international flights. This detour not only adds hours to travel time but also pushes up fuel usage, increases crew working hours, and brings higher operational expenses. For example, Air India’s Toronto-to-Delhi flight had to stop in Copenhagen to refuel, while flights from Paris and London were rerouted to Abu Dhabi mid-journey for fuel. A Sharjah-Amritsar flight even had to be redirected toward Turbat in Pakistan’s neighborhood before turning away.

Each rerouted flight adds roughly two hours to its journey. Multiply that by hundreds of flights weekly, and the total impact is staggering. Industry experts say up to 300 Indian flights used Pakistan’s airspace daily, including nearly 80 round-trip international services from big carriers like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express.

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Tensions Escalate, Diplomatic Fallout Grows

The airspace ban follows a rise in political and military tensions between the two neighboring countries. A recent attack in Jammu and Kashmir heightened the situation, with India pointing fingers at Pakistan—claims that Islamabad denies. In response, both countries have taken several retaliatory steps: suspending visa agreements, reducing embassy staff, and even halting the only active land border crossing.

The Indian government also made headlines by suspending the Indus Water Treaty, which governs the use of shared rivers. Pakistan has strongly condemned this move, warning that any tampering with its water rights would be considered a declaration of war.

No Clear End in Sight

What makes matters worse is that there’s no timeline on when the airspace might reopen. Until then, Indian airlines will continue bleeding money with every rerouted flight. The situation is causing widespread concern in India’s aviation sector, already recovering from pandemic-related losses. If this ban continues, it could force airlines to rethink routes, raise ticket prices, or even suspend certain services altogether.