Airlines in India, specifically Air India and IndiGo, are preparing for increased fuel expenses and extended flight durations as they alter their international routes following the closure of Pakistani airspace. This action comes amid heightened tensions stemming from a recent militant attack in Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.
The Indian government has alleged that elements from Pakistan were involved in the assault that took place in the Pahalgam region. Pakistan, however, has refuted these claims.
In retaliation to these events, both countries have enacted various measures against each other, including India’s decision to suspend a critical treaty regarding river water-sharing.
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Notably, international airlines remain unaffected by this airspace closure.
As of late Thursday, Air India and IndiGo commenced the process of rerouting flights to destinations such as New York, Azerbaijan, and Dubai, which typically traverse Pakistani airspace, according to data from Flightradar24.
New Delhi’s airport, one of the busiest globally, is expected to face the most significant disruptions, as many flights heading to Western and Middle Eastern destinations typically cross through Pakistani airspace.
Data from Cirium Ascend indicates that IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express collectively have around 1,200 scheduled flights from New Delhi to Europe, the Middle East, and North America in April.
For Air India, flights bound for the Middle East will now require an additional hour of travel time, leading to increased fuel consumption and reduced cargo capacity, according to an anonymous Indian aviation executive.
Fuel and oil costs typically account for roughly 30% of an airline’s operational budget, representing the largest expenditure category.
Flight Modifications
IndiGo has reported that approximately 50 international routes are likely to experience slight adjustments. Additionally, the airline has announced the cancellation of its flights to Almaty from April 27 to at least May 7, and to Tashkent from April 28 until May 7.
The expansion plans of Indian airlines are already facing challenges due to delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus.
A pilot working for an Indian airline told Reuters that the airspace ban would necessitate a reevaluation of allowable flight hours and adjustments to crew and pilot schedules. Another executive mentioned that staff at his airline worked late into Thursday night to address the implications of the ban.
Both individuals requested anonymity when sharing this information.
For instance, IndiGo flight 6E1803 from New Delhi to Baku took 5 hours and 43 minutes on Thursday using a longer alternate route that involved flying southwest to Gujarat, over the Arabian Sea, before heading north over Iran toward Azerbaijan. In contrast, the same flight on Wednesday had taken just 5 hours and 5 minutes by passing through Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan has stated that the airspace restrictions will remain in place until May 23.
Historically, a similar ban in 2019 resulted in a reported loss of at least $64 million for Air India, IndiGo, and other carriers, as a result of the closure lasting for around five months.