India’s aviation sector has been thrown into disarray following Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace to Indian aircraft, resulting in major operational disruptions and financial losses for Indian airlines.
According to Indian media reports, a high-level meeting chaired by the Civil Aviation Minister revealed that leading carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have all reported severe business setbacks due to the ongoing airspace restriction.
Sources indicate that more than 800 Indian flights per week have been directly affected by the airspace closure. The Civil Aviation Minister, however, declined immediate financial assistance to the struggling airlines, urging them instead to devise alternative routing plans spanning six months to a year.
IndiGo Airlines has suspended its Central Asian operations altogether, with flights to key destinations such as Almaty and Tashkent grounded, as these cities now fall outside the reach of the airline’s operational range without access to Pakistani airspace.
The impact has rippled through northern India’s international air traffic, particularly affecting long-haul routes to Western Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. Airlines that once relied on the convenient and cost-effective overflight of Pakistani territory are now facing longer routes, increased fuel costs, and logistical hurdles.
IndiGo, which operates multiple routes through Pakistan’s airspace to the Middle East, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, is among the most affected carriers. Similarly, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have all had to reroute or cancel flights bound westward.
In the meeting, representatives from affected airlines voiced strong concerns, with some reportedly expressing frustration over the lack of immediate government support. The disruption is also causing significant inconvenience to passengers, with delays, rerouted journeys, and increased ticket prices now commonplace.
The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry recalled that during a similar airspace closure in 2019, Indian airlines suffered losses amounting to ₹700 crore (approximately $84 million at the time). The current scenario appears poised to inflict comparable, if not greater, financial damage if the situation persists.
The aviation minister concluded the session by instructing all airlines to prepare comprehensive contingency plans, factoring in long-term airspace restrictions, and to explore alternative international flight corridors to minimize operational impact.
