Indian airlines grapple with rising fuel costs, extended routes as Pakistan closes airspace

India’s leading carriers, Air India and IndiGo, are scrambling to reroute several international flights and brace for a spike in operational costs after Pakistan abruptly closed its airspace to Indian airlines, following renewed tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The closure comes on the heels of a deadly militant assault in Kashmir on April 22, where 26 men were gunned down in a remote meadow in the Pahalgam area. India has pointed to Pakistani involvement — a claim Islamabad strongly denies.

As diplomatic tempers flared, Pakistan retaliated by banning Indian carriers from using its airspace, dealing a blow to an already burdened aviation industry. While international airlines remain unaffected, Indian carriers are now forced to take significantly longer routes to reach destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and North America — most of which previously relied on Pakistan’s westward air corridor.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows that rerouted services to cities like New York, Baku, and Dubai are already incurring additional flight time. IndiGo flight 6E1803, for example, took 5 hours and 43 minutes to reach Azerbaijan on April 24, nearly 40 minutes longer than the same route a day earlier via Pakistan.

Air India, which operates the most extensive long-haul network out of New Delhi, stands to be the hardest hit. Aviation analyst Ajay Awtaney of LiveFromALounge highlighted the ripple effect this will have on the national carrier’s cost structure and cargo capacity. "Air India’s long-haul routes are particularly vulnerable. Each added hour in the air translates to thousands in fuel burn and reduced payload," he said.

According to Cirium Ascend data, Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo collectively operate about 1,200 international flights from New Delhi every month — many of which now require detours. A senior industry executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated that additional fuel requirements could lead to cargo restrictions and scheduling upheavals.

"This isn't just about rerouting — it's a full-scale recalibration," said a pilot at one Indian carrier. "Flight hours, crew assignments, fatigue limits — everything has to be refigured."

IndiGo acknowledged on April 25 that “a few” of its flights would be affected, while Air India posted on X that select services to and from North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East would now follow extended routes.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Indian aviation. Airlines are already wrestling with delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus, and jet fuel — accounting for nearly 30% of operating costs — has seen price spikes amid global volatility.

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the restriction will remain in place until at least May 23. The last such airspace closure, in 2019, cost Indian airlines over $64 million.

As the diplomatic standoff intensifies, industry insiders warn that the skies could remain turbulent for Indian aviation in the weeks ahead.