New Delhi: Indian airlines are facing a double blow as the ongoing Middle East war disrupts flight routes, compounded by a Pakistan airspace ban that has been in place since April last year. The situation is causing severe operational and financial challenges for carriers like Air India and IndiGo, which rely on the region as a key corridor for flights to Europe and the US.
Flight Disruptions and Cancellations
Data from Cirium shows that over the past 10 days, Air India and IndiGo did not operate 64% of their 1,230 scheduled international flights to the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
Aviation expert Amit Mittal described the situation as a “double whammy” for Indian airlines, which must now navigate rerouted paths around conflict zones while avoiding Pakistani airspace.
HSBC warned that the geopolitical tensions could impose a “significant burden” on costs and profitability, estimating that a week of cancellations could reduce an airline’s annual profit-before-tax by 1.2%.
IndiGo Faces Unique Challenges
IndiGo is particularly affected because it leases six long-range Boeing aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways, registered in Norway. European aviation regulations require these planes to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, forcing longer flight paths via Africa.
Some flights have faced operational hurdles:
- A Delhi-Manchester flight had to return to Delhi after 13 hours in the air due to Eritrea denying airspace access.
- Another London-Mumbai flight was diverted to Cairo under similar restrictions.
IndiGo cited these incidents as a result of “last-minute airspace restrictions”. These disruptions come as the airline faces additional challenges following the resignation of CEO Pieter Elbers, amid operational scrutiny in December.
Air India Adjustments
Air India is responding by adding 78 extra flights on India-Europe and India-US routes to meet rising demand during the conflict. However, flight times have increased due to forced stopovers, giving competitors like Lufthansa and American Airlines a time advantage.
For example, the Delhi-New York flight now takes nearly 22 hours with a stop in Rome, compared to 17 hours via Iraq and Turkey before the conflict. American Airlines still manages the same route in about 16 hours using Pakistan airspace.
Financial Impact
The Pakistan airspace ban alone is expected to cost Air India $600 million annually, on top of reported losses of $433 million last year. Longer flight durations increase fuel consumption, further straining airline finances amid soaring jet fuel prices after the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
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The combination of regional conflict and restricted airspace is forcing Indian carriers to reconsider operational strategies, manage rising costs, and compete with international airlines operating faster routes. Industry experts warn that until geopolitical tensions ease, financial pressure on Indian airlines is likely to persist.
