Hundreds of flights were affected this month after Pakistan closed its airspace to India amid escalating diplomatic tensions. The nuclear-armed nations have unleashed a raft of measures against each other and continued to exchange fire along the Line of Control in Kashmir on Monday. Against this backdrop Pakistan International Airlines has rerouted its flights through Chinese airspace — increasing flight time.
According to a Times of Karachi report, the first rerouted flight departed from Lahore on Monday with more than 120 passengers on board. The plane is headed towards Kuala Lumpur via Chinese airspace instead of its usual route over India. The new routes are expected to increase flight durations and marks a major operational shift for international routes handled by PIA.
Meanwhile the Indian government is now working with domestic airlines to better understand the implications of the airspace closure and work out solutions. More than 800 international flights operated by Indian carriers are likely to be affected per week due to the closure — with increased fuel burn and some other complications linked to crew and flight scheduling. Flight tracking data indicated that some ultra-long-haul planes travelling to and from North America were now taking technical halts (for refueling or crew change) at European airports.
The blockade might however cost Pakistan millions of dollars in lost aviation revenue in the coming days. A perusal of reports from 2019 (following the Pulwama attack) indicate that the country had lost nearly $100 million after closing its airspace for all civilian traffic.
‘India, Pakistan exchange fire
India said on Monday it had responded to ‘unprovoked’ small arms firing from Pakistan along the de facto border for the fourth consecutive night, as it deepens its search for militants in the region following last week’s deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir.