Sky-high chaos: Pakistan's move forces Indian flights into Rs 307 crore turbulence per month
NEW DELHI: Indian airlines are staring at additional weekly operational expenses of approximately Rs 77 crore due to closure of Pakistan airspace, amid escalating tensions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The closure is forcing airlines to take longer alternative routes, increasing fuel costs and flight durations significantly.
Based on the number of international flights from northern India and the extended flight time, news agency PTI reported that the monthly impact on operational costs could cross Rs 307 crore.
According to a senior airline executive quoted by PTI, international flights to North America now require up to 1.5 hours of additional flying time, which can increase costs by Rs 29 lakh per flight, including fuel, landing, and parking charges due to unscheduled technical halts.
For European routes, the extra flying time is also around 1.5 hours, with an added cost of roughly Rs 22.5 lakh per flight, while Middle East-bound flights are facing delays of up to 45 minutes, adding about Rs 5 lakh in extra operational expense per flight.
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that Indian carriers operate more than 6,000 international flights monthly, with around 800 weekly flights originating from northern Indian cities such as Delhi, headed to destinations across North America, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East.
Of these, around 1,900 flights per month are operated using narrow-body aircraft (A320s, A321s, B737s) to the Middle East. PTI's estimates suggest this alone could lead to an additional Rs 90 crore per month in costs. Long-haul flights using wide-body aircraft to Europe and North America are responsible for the remaining Rs 217 crore.
Beyond fuel costs, airlines are also grappling with crew duty time limits, reduced aircraft availability, and payload challenges, making the disruption more complex.
On April 25, IndiGo announced that around 50 of its international routes would be adjusted due to longer flight sectors. It also suspended operations to Almaty (from April 27 to May 7) and Tashkent (April 28 to May 7), stating that rerouting made these destinations unviable for its current fleet.
Other carriers including Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have not yet publicly announced flight cancellations but are expected to face operational strain. Widebody operators like Air India and IndiGo (which leases B777s and B787s) are better positioned to absorb the impact than budget airlines running narrow-body fleets.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
State approves allocation of land for new high court complex in Bandra (East)
Mumbai: Removal of the state govt staff quarters in Bandra (East) along with the shifting and relocation of all reservations and internal roads has been accomplished to make way for the integrated high court building complex and residential quarters. Slum relocation began in April with the Gautam Nagar slum. On Tuesday, the state cabinet approved a proposal to allocate 30.2 acres of the 90-acre Bandra govt colony for the high court. The integrated complex is estimated to cost Rs 2,625 crore. At a high-level meeting of the steering committee of judges and senior bureaucrats, including the chief secretary and principal secretary of the urban development department, in Oct, officials decided to initiate the process of changing the reservation of 30.2 acres for the new high court complex. The state chief architect prepared a plan to reserve land for the complex without removing reservations such as playgrounds or gardens. Instead, these were shifted within the Bandra govt colony layout, and the road network was planned according to the complex's requirements and the surrounding road network. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The urban development department has invited objections and suggestions from the public regarding the proposed change in the 90-acre Bandra govt colony layout and the reservation of 30.2 acres for the new high court complex. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The PWD began constructing staff quarters on the remaining govt colony plot. Officials stated that two 22-storey structures have been completed, and another two will be ready by early next year. In April, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority relocated 138 tenements of the Gautam Nagar slum settled on this land to a slum rehabilitation building at Kherwadi in Bandra (East). The Samata Nagar slums will be relocated next. The cabinet approved a proposal to waive the cost of 254 rehabilitation flats amounting to Rs 31.75 crore. The rehabilitation flats are located in Malad (East) and Kandivli. The high court directed that the 30.2 acres be transferred in six phases. The first two phases, comprising 9.6 acres, have already been transferred. The third phase, covering 4.1 acres, includes the Gautam Nagar and Samta Nagar slums.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
BCC shifts e-Khata applications to Belagavi One centres following corruption concerns
Belagavi: In a bid to streamline the property registration process and curb irregularities, the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has introduced citizen-friendly reforms for e-Aasthi enrolments. Property owners can now apply for e-Khata registrations through designated Belagavi One centres in the city. Previously, applications were accepted manually at three divisional BCC offices. However, after corporators raised concerns over corruption, BCC commissioner Shubha B conducted a surprise inspection. She discovered that files submitted through middlemen were being prioritised, while genuine applications with complete documentation faced unnecessary delays. Taking immediate action, the commissioner suspended manual submission of applications and transferred the process to Belagavi One centres. "Currently, two centres are operational, one at Ashok Nagar and another at Goaves. Due to increasing workload, we have requested two additional centres at the BCC office building and Konwal Galli. We are expecting those to become operational in a week," she told the TOI. You Can Also Check: Hubballi AQI | Weather in Hubballi | Bank Holidays in Hubballi | Public Holidays in Hubballi The commissioner stated that the entire process is now transparent and affordable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pernas e tornozelos inchados? Descubra o que pode ajudar a drenar agora aartedoherbalismo Undo "Applicants can submit documents directly at the centres by paying a nominal fee of Rs 25. There is no need to approach agents or middlemen," she said, adding that login credentials have been issued to the centres for direct uploading of applications. Commissioner Shubha said BCC successfully cleared a backlog of 3,854 e-Khata applications, some pending for over six months, in just two days recently. However, the pace has slowed due to server issues. "The urban development department informed us that the server would be down for four days; three have already passed. We're hoping for resolution soon," she noted. To raise public awareness, BCC installed a cantilever board at Channamma Circle, listing required documents for obtaining A-Khata and B-Khata certificates. Although a helpline was launched to assist residents with e-Khata queries, it is currently facing challenges. "Most calls are unrelated to e-Khata, making it difficult to resolve actual queries," the commissioner admitted.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kochi Metro introduces new student pass with increased rate
1 2 3 4 Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has introduced a new student pass system, with higher fares, despite mounting pressure from student organizations and educational institutions, demanding a return to the earlier system. The new system, which will come into effect on July 1, offers a 30-day travel package for Rs 1,100. The pass provides 50 trips between any two stations and a 33% discount on the average/mean trip fare. The cost for a three-month package is Rs 3,000. The earlier Vidya-45 pass allowed 50 trips for Rs 495 with a validity of 45 days. Additionally, there were unlimited travel passes — Vidya-1 priced at Rs 50 for one day and Vidya-30 at Rs 900 for a month. These passes were withdrawn at the beginning of this year, sparking protests. You Can Also Check: Kochi AQI | Weather in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi "With an average/mean trip cost of Rs 33, students would normally spend Rs 1,650 for 50 trips. Our new student pass at Rs 1,100 provides a substantial saving of Rs 550, making Kochi Metro one of the most student-friendly metros in India," said KMRL managing director Loknath Behera. According to KMRL authorities, the new student pass will be available for purchase at all Kochi Metro stations from July 1. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo Valid student identification should be produced during purchase. Students may be required to show ID during travel to deter misuse, they said. The pass is non-transferable and will be available for students up to the age of 30, informed KMRL. Naveen Mathew, a member of the KSU Cochin University unit, said the hike may badly affect the students who avail the offer. "The old pass system was beneficial to many. The increased rate may invite protest," he said. Ebencer Chullikkad of the Kochi Metro Passengers Association also demanded KMRL reinstate the Vidya-45 pass system. "Vidya-45 offered a discount of Rs 10 per trip and it has now increased to Rs 22, which cannot be agreed upon," he said. Kochi Metro authorities said its new pass system offers a higher discount than Nagpur (30%), Pune (30%) and Hyderabad (10%). They said the widespread misuse of student passes, which drastically affected revenue, forced KMRL to increase student pass rates. "Vidya-45 was introduced as a promotional scheme after Covid, to bring back passengers to metro trains. We can't continue such a scheme forever, incurring a huge loss in farebox revenue," said a KMRL official.
