The escalating India-Pakistan conflict is causing significant disruptions to air travel, with several major Asian airlines announcing flight reroutings and cancellations. Taiwan’s China Airlines and Korean Air are among the carriers adjusting their routes to and from Europe.
Simultaneously, approximately a dozen Indian airports have been temporarily shut down following the outbreak of fighting between India and Pakistan. These airspace closures and route diversions are creating a ripple effect on global air travel.
Airline Flight Rerouting Over Oman, UAE, and Kuwait Amid Airspace Concerns
Following India’s attack on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, and Pakistan’s claim of shooting down five Indian fighter jets, flight tracking websites displayed a noticeable shift in air traffic.
A significant number of airlines were observed flying over Oman, the UAE, and Kuwait. This surge in air traffic over these regions raises concerns about potential airspace congestion as airlines seek to avoid the affected India Pakistan airspace.
Pakistan Accuses India of Endangering Commercial Flights
Pakistani authorities reported that 57 international flights were operating within Pakistan’s airspace when the Indian strikes occurred. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office issued a statement asserting that India’s actions “caused grave danger to commercial airlines” belonging to Gulf countries and “endangered lives.”
As of now, India’s civil aviation ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding Pakistan’s accusations concerning the safety of commercial flights.
The direct results of the India-Pakistan conflict extends to domestic air travel within both countries. India’s leading airline, IndiGo, announced the cancellation of 165 flights until Saturday morning, leading to a 1.1% drop in its shares. Flights operated by other Indian carriers, including Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, were also cancelled as India implemented closures of several Indian airports.
Data from Flightradar24 visually confirmed the extent of the air travel disruption. The northwestern part of India and a significant portion of Pakistan’s airspace appeared largely devoid of civilian aircraft, with only a few flights visible in the area. This near-empty airspace underscores the severity of the impact of the India-Pakistan conflict on air routes.
It’s Impact on Global Airlines
The ongoing changes in airline schedules are expected to further complicate operations for carriers in the Middle East and South Asia. These airlines are already navigating the complexities arising from other regional conflicts, and the India-Pakistan airspace closure adds another layer of logistical challenges.
Dutch airline KLM has already confirmed that it would not be flying over Pakistan until further notice, prioritizing the safety of its passengers and crew. Singapore Airlines also announced that it had ceased flying over Pakistani airspace since May 6, indicating a proactive approach to mitigating potential risks associated with the India-Pakistan tensions.
Korean Air reported that it had begun rerouting its Seoul Incheon–Dubai flights on Wednesday. Instead of the usual path through Pakistani airspace, these flights are now taking a southern route over Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India. Similarly, Thai Airways announced that its flights to destinations in Europe and South Asia would be rerouted starting early Wednesday morning to avoid the conflict zone.
Flights originating from India and bound for Europe are also experiencing longer travel times due to the necessary flight reroutings. For example, a Lufthansa flight from Delhi to Frankfurt took approximately half an hour longer than its scheduled duration on Tuesday, according to data from FlightRadar24, highlighting the operational impact of the India-Pakistan airspace closure.
Meanwhile, the Association Of Asia Pacific Airlines has expressed its concern regarding the impact of conflicts on airline operations. The association emphasized that “apart from cost and operational disruption, there are safety concerns as GPS spoofing interfering with flight operations over conflict zones is one of the highest risks the industry faces.”
