New Delhi: India has extended its airspace ban on Pakistani airlines and aircraft till October 24, days after Islamabad announced the closure of its airspace for
Indian carriers. The reciprocal ban after the recent extension will enter its sixth month. Pakistan first announced the airspace ban on April 24 after India held Islamabad responsible for the Pehalgam terror attack that took place on April 22. In response, New Delhi also banned Pakistani aircraft and airlines on Indian airspace on April 30.
According to the new NOTAM, India will keep its airspace closed for Pakistani airlines and aircraft, including military flights, till 5:29 Indian standard time on October 24. The Pakistani NOTAM also has the same expiration date and time.
Impact of airlines ban on India
The decision has been significantly affecting the flight operations, particularly for Indian carriers. The ban has lengthened flight times, increased costs and complicated logistics for flights to the West. Flights from north Indian cities like Delhi, Amritsar, and Jaipur to North America, Europe and West Asia, which primarily fly over Pakistan, have been significantly affected.
The flight durations have increased by 30 minutes to over two hours on international routes. The long-haul flights from Delhi to North America are facing additions of 1.2 to 2.5 hours. The additional fuel due to longer routes has led to a substantial increase in operational costs for the airlines.
The similar ban in 2019, which lasted for five months, cost around Rs 700 crore to the Indian airlines. As the ban continues, the costs are expected to surpass the previous ones.
Impact of airlines ban on Pakistan
The ban has had a minimal impact on Pakistani airlines, given its smaller and financially weaker aviation sector. Pakistan’s three indigenous airlines, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue, and Serene Air, have a limited international footprint. Moreover, there are only a handful of flights overflying India as most of them are west-bound. However, Pakistan will lose substantial revenue from the fees paid by Indian flights.
