Major global airlines steer clear of Pakistan airspace for India flights

Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates and others reroute flights amid India-Pakistan airspace restrictions, raising flight times and cutting Pakistan's overflight revenue

Major global airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, Emirates, American Airlines, Air France, and British Airways have stopped using Pakistan’s airspace while operating their flights to and from India, after tensions between India and Pakistan flared following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in which 26 people, most of them tourists, died.

 

Pakistan had, on April 24, announced the closure of its airspace to Indian carriers. India shut its airspace for Pakistan’s airlines from May 1 onwards. International carriers, however, are allowed to use both countries’ airspaces.

 

Yet, Lufthansa’s Delhi-Frankfurt flight and Swiss International Air Lines’ Delhi-Zurich flight stopped using Pakistani airspace from May 1, instead routing via Gujarat and the United Arab Emirates airspace to Europe, according to industry sources. Swiss is part of the Lufthansa Group.

 

A Lufthansa Group spokesperson said: “Due to the current situation, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group are avoiding Pakistani airspace until further notice. This will result in longer flight times on some routes to Asia.”

 

“We regret any inconvenience caused by the resulting delays. We kindly ask all passengers to check their flight status before departure. Lufthansa Group is, of course, continuing to monitor the current developments closely. Safety is the top priority for all airlines in the Lufthansa Group at all times,” the spokesperson added.

 

British Airways’ Delhi-London flight and Air France’s Delhi-Paris flight have also not been using Pakistani airspace since May 1. As a result, the flight time of Air France’s Delhi-Paris flight (AF225) has increased by about 90 minutes, industry sources said.

 

American Airlines’ Delhi-New York flights have been avoiding Pakistani airspace since April 30. Emirates’ Delhi-Dubai service has also been avoiding this airspace, sources added. 

In a statement to Business Standard, Air France confirmed that due to the recent "evolution of tensions" between India and Pakistan, the airline has decided to suspend overflight of Pakistan until further notice.

 

"As a result, the airline is adapting its flight schedule and flight plans to and from certain routes - three of them (Delhi, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh) - requiring longer flight times. Air France is constantly monitoring developments in the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security," it added.

 

British Airways, American Airlines, and Emirates did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter. 

 

With Indian carriers and major international carriers avoiding its airspace, Pakistan is bound to lose a significant chunk of overflight fees.

 

Countries earn revenue from overflight fees charged to airlines that use their airspace, even if the aircraft does not land within their borders. These fees are typically calculated based on factors such as the weight of the aircraft and the distance flown within the country’s airspace.

 

However, not all global carriers have started avoiding Pakistan’s airspace for their India flights. Sources mentioned that Qatar Airways and Oman Air continue to use that airspace for their India flights.

 

Air India had, on April 27, informed the Union government that it expected to face around $600 million in additional costs if the ban from Pakistan’s airspace lasts for a year. The Indian carrier had asked the government for financial assistance during the period of this ban.