Pakistan’s airspace closure for Indian-owned and Indian-operated aircraft has hit India much harder than the impact of India’s airspace ban on Pakistan. The move has caused major disruptions to Indian flight operations, adding fuel costs, transit expenses, and forcing many flights to make expensive mid-route stops.
The decision for the airspace closure came during a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting. Pakistan took this step after India reacted with what Pakistan called “frivolous measures” following an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The restriction applies to both commercial and military aircraft. It started on April 24 and will stay in effect until May 23. The situation reflects rising tensions between the two nuclear neighbors.
Every day, around 200 to 300 Indian flights used Pakistani airspace. These flights connect cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar, and Ahmedabad to Europe, the Middle East, and North America. In comparison, Pakistan had only one eastbound flight affected. That flight can be rerouted easily through China. Due to Pakistan’s reduced operations towards the Far East, the airspace closure has little to no impact on Pakistani airlines.
Within just hours after the ban, Indian flights started facing problems. An Air India flight from Toronto to Delhi had to land in Copenhagen to refuel. Other flights from Paris and London made unexpected stops in Abu Dhabi. A Sharjah to Amritsar flight had to reroute before even entering Pakistani territory. Many planes were also diverted to Ahmedabad for extra fuel.
This is not the first time Pakistan has enforced an airspace closure in response to Indian actions. Similar steps were taken during the 1999 Kargil conflict and again after the Pulwama attack in 2019. In both cases, India suffered heavier consequences.
In 2019, Pakistan had also shut its skies to foreign airlines flying into India, causing even wider disruption. The current airspace closure comes after the attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley. India blamed Pakistan for the attack but has provided no evidence. Pakistan strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and irrational.
The fallout between the two countries has been quick and deep. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, causing anger in Pakistan. Both sides expelled senior diplomats and froze bilateral agreements. Special visa schemes for travel between the two nations were also cancelled. Trade and transit through each other’s territory have come to a complete halt.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the airspace closure is likely to cost Indian airlines millions of dollars in losses.
