Airlines will need to reschedule all westbound flights, particularly flights taking off from North India, on Thursday, two days after the terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. As a result, airline costs will rise due to extended routes and could translate into higher airfares for passengers.
Air India and Indigo have issued recommendations warning passengers about service interruptions on international routes due to changes in flight routes, which could result in longer alternative routes. Air India said several flights to North America, the UK, Europe and the Middle East could be particularly affected.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said flights from North India to the UAE will be operated via alternative routes. As a result, these flights will carry more fuel considering longer flight times. However, the spokesman revealed that there will not be a major impact on flight schedules.
Pakistan last closed its airspace in nearly five months. In 2019, following Balakot’s airstrikes in retaliation for the Pulwama terrorist attack, Indian airlines lost around Rs 600, after which Civil Aviation Minister Hadeep Singh Puri told Raja Sabha. Air India alone operated on international flights westbound than other airlines, resulting in a loss of Rs 491 or Rs 4 daily on flights in the US, which is Europe. Meanwhile, SpiceJet, Indigo and Goair lost around Rs 31 trillion, Rs 25 crore, Rs 2 crore and Rs 2 trillion, respectively, during that period.
“It’s still too early to assess the actual financial impact as we don’t know how long the airspace will be closed, but operational costs will definitely rise as airlines deploy more pilots and crews and burn additional fuel for longer routes.” Fuel accounts for around 25-30% of the airline’s costs.
Some European flights operated from North India will increase by about 2.5 hours, senior pilots told NDTV’s profits. Flights to the US may require a refueling halt in Europe, adding approximately four hours to your trip. In 2019, Air India flights from Delhi to JFK in both Chicago and New York were routed via Vienna, so the plane could refuel there.
Another executive said fares to destinations like Europe and the US could rise 20-25% in the short term due to Pakistan’s retaliatory actions.
