Pakistan Extends Ban on Indian Flights for Another Month

Pakistan has decided to extend the ban on Indian flights for an additional month, further intensifying the ongoing tensions between the two nations. The closure of Pakistan’s airspace to Indian aircraft began on April 24, following the escalation of conflict after the Pulwama attack in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. Now, Pakistan has announced that the airspace closure will remain in place for another month.

The closure has resulted in significant financial losses for Indian airlines, which have reportedly lost over 800 crore rupees in just one month. Indian airlines now face even higher costs, as the airspace closure forces them to reroute flights, resulting in longer travel times and additional fuel consumption. According to experts, these extra costs have already amounted to around 500 crore rupees in fuel expenses alone.

With the extended airspace closure, airlines like Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo have been forced to make substantial adjustments, including higher fuel costs, crew changes, and airport fees. The extra flying time has led to a rise in operational costs, with estimates suggesting that Indian airlines are spending millions of dollars more every day.

Air India, the most impacted airline, has requested government assistance to cope with the financial burden. The continued airspace restrictions have forced flights from cities like Amritsar, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore to take longer detours, increasing the travel distance and causing delays.

If the ban continues, Indian airlines could face increased ticket prices and be forced to adjust their routes, which may further inconvenience passengers traveling to destinations like the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK.