“Given the current circumstances and in light of national security considerations, Indian airspace will remain closed to all Pakistani aircraft until further notice,” a senior government official confirmed.
Though Pakistani flights were already avoiding Indian airspace amid fears of potential military retaliation, India’s official ban now removes any possibility of passage for Pakistan’s aircraft. The move is expected to heavily impact Pakistan’s aviation sector, particularly for routes to Southeast Asia and Oceania, which now require significant detours.
This closure, announced amid rising geopolitical tensions, has forced airlines to reroute international flights, leading to longer flying times and significantly higher operational costs.
Flights from northern Indian cities to destinations such as Europe, the UK, the Middle East, and North America now face additional flying times ranging from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. This increase translates to an average added cost of ₹5 lakh per flight to the Middle East, ₹22.5 lakh to Europe, and nearly ₹29 lakh for North America-bound services. Analysts estimate that nearly 800 international flights per week are affected, with a cumulative monthly financial burden close to ₹306 crore.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has already suspended its services to Almaty and Tashkent, citing the aircraft range limitations imposed by the new, longer routes. “With the same restrictions and limited rerouting options, unfortunately, Almaty and Tashkent are outside the operational range of IndiGo’s current fleet,” the airline said in a statement.
Other carriers, including Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, are monitoring the situation and may follow with cancellations or schedule adjustments.
The restriction also poses logistical challenges, such as increased crew duty hours and aircraft availability issues. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that over 6,000 one-way international flights are scheduled from India in April alone, with a significant share originating in northern India.
The tit-for-tat airspace closures reflect a rapidly deteriorating diplomatic climate between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. With tensions at a high, both sides remain on alert as the international community watches closely for signs of de-escalation—or further provocation.
