Tensions between India and Pakistan have once again spilled into the skies, forcing major airlines across the globe to reroute or cancel flights as fears of escalation rise following military strikes. The disruption has particularly affected air travel across South Asia and the Middle East, creating ripple effects in international aviation.
What Triggered the Disruption?
The current crisis erupted after India launched airstrikes on nine locations within Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The strikes came in response to a recent terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. India claimed its air raids targeted “terrorist infrastructure” responsible for the attack. Pakistan strongly denied the existence of any such camps and responded by allegedly shooting down five Indian fighter jets.
As military activity intensified, fears of a broader regional escalation grew — with immediate consequences for commercial aviation.
Widespread Flight Disruptions (Airlines Reroute)
- Airports Closed: Around a dozen airports in India were temporarily shut as a precautionary measure. Domestic flights faced significant disruption in both countries.
- Flight Cancellations:
- India’s largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled 165 flights and saw a 1.1% drop in share prices.
- Other Indian carriers like Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air also cancelled multiple services.
- Pakistan initially closed its airspace temporarily but later stated that it was fully operational. Despite this, many international carriers continued to avoid flying over Pakistani airspace.
Global Airlines Affected
Airlines from Asia, Europe, and North America altered flight paths or suspended services:
- United Airlines cancelled its direct Newark–Delhi flight citing “airspace limitations.”
- Korean Air rerouted flights from Seoul to Dubai via southern Asia (Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India).
- Singapore Airlines, KLM, Thai Airways, and China Airlines have all diverted their regular routes to avoid Pakistan airspace.
- American Airlines issued a waiver for passengers traveling to New Delhi, allowing them to reschedule their flights without penalty.
According to data from FlightRadar24, flights from India to Europe are now taking longer routes, adding as much as 30 minutes to travel times, particularly for carriers like Lufthansa.
Airspace Congestion and Safety Risks
Air traffic over the Middle East became visibly denser, especially over Oman, UAE, and Kuwait (Airlines Reroute), as aircraft rerouted around the closed or restricted airspace. Pakistan reported that 57 international flights were in its airspace at the time of the Indian strikes, highlighting the potential danger posed to civilian aviation.
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines expressed concern about the rising impact of regional conflicts on commercial aviation. One of the most significant safety threats highlighted was GPS spoofing — a cyber threat that manipulates aircraft navigation systems, potentially steering planes off-course. This is particularly worrying in conflict-prone airspaces.
Looking Ahead
Aviation analysts warn that if the situation escalates, Pakistan might impose a full airspace closure, as seen during a previous standoff in 2019. Such a move would severely disrupt global routes connecting Europe and Asia.
While both countries are trying to manage the fallout, the uncertainty and military activity in the region present ongoing challenges to air safety, operations, and scheduling.
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