The skies above South Asia have turned into a new arena of geopolitical strife—one where steel wings are grounded, and national economies feel the turbulence.
Air India, India’s national carrier, has issued a dire forecast: if Pakistan’s airspace remains closed to Indian airlines for a full year, the financial damage could rise to a jaw-dropping Rs 5,081 crore. The warning, sourced from internal estimates and reported by agencies, paints a grim picture of soaring costs and strategic deadlock.
Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers on April 24, in retaliation for India’s diplomatic rebuke following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. What began as a payback maneuver is now morphing into a logistical crisis, threatening to reshape international air routes and cripple airline balance sheets.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, recognizing the high stakes, has called for urgent consultations with major airlines including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and both arms of Air India. Together, they are working to navigate not just alternate skies, but a financial storm. Every rerouted flight means longer air time, higher fuel burn, and additional strain on crew schedules—all of which are now being tallied into mounting operational costs.
Initial analysis reveals that international flights from North India alone are hemorrhaging nearly Rs 77 crore per week due to the extended detours. At this rate, airlines could be staring down Rs 306 crore in extra monthly expenses, with no end in sight. In a retaliatory move of its own, India has now shut its airspace to Pakistani aircraft until May 23. But while the diplomatic chess game continues, Indian aviation is paying the price—through dwindling margins, disrupted schedules, and a looming spike in ticket prices.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said that the government is assessing the situation, adding that all options were tabled, from financial aid to route reconfiguration.
For now, the skies remain shut. But on the ground, the battle to keep India’s aviation industry airborne has only just begun.
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