Latest news with #MumbaiATC
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kolkata controllers assist international flights as original north-west routes reopen after airspace restrictions
1 2 3 Kolkata: Six days after the air traffic control in Kolkata scrambled to re-route all overflying aircraft from South-East Asia to Europe in the wake of Operation Sindoor, controllers on Tuesday helped some international flights revert to the original routes across north-west India and Pakistan. Though the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on airspace restrictions to the west of Delhi was withdrawn on Monday morning, it took around 24 hours for the first aircraft to venture into the airspace that was buzzing with drones and missiles last development brought relief to foreign carriers operating flights between Europe and South-East Asia as the detour via Mumbai and the Gulf pushed up fuel consumption and hiked operating costs, leaving the routes in the red."The closure of the route and the diversion of flights was similar to what would happen if any arterial road like EM Bypass is shut down suddenly. Cars will take diversions provided by police. Controllers in Kolkata did so in the early hours of May 7. When the shut route or Bypass then reopens, some cars will continue to travel along the alternative route because they already planned to do so along the route or want to wait till they are sure all is fine in the shut stretch of the Bypass. We have again provided the information to pilots that the earlier routes are back in operation. Some pilots are choosing to revert to the old route and we are ensuring safe navigation," explained a announced the reopening of its airspace shortly after the ceasefire was announced on Saturday evening. But India waited a couple of days to make sure the ceasefire violations stopped before announcing the decision to lift the restriction on its the restriction, nearly 800 flights that used to fly over Delhi before heading into Pakistan en route to Europe were redirected via Mumbai and the Gulf or the workload of controllers in Kolkata suddenly spiked on May 7 night and in the early hours of May 8, controllers in Mumbai ATC have been bearing the brunt of the additional load since then. While the Mumbai FIR used to handle 1,200 overflights prior to the airspace restriction, it has had to handle nearly 2,000 flights in the past four days."The northern section of Mumbai's oceanic airspace, typically busy, became increasingly congested as controllers directed additional flights through several routes. Yemen's airspace, situated south of these routes, remains an area most airlines prefer to avoid," explained a controller.**BOX**European-bound flights typically traverse Kolkata, Delhi, Pakistan, then Tajikistan and Uzbekistan before entering European travelling to and from West Asia traditionally utilise routes via Yangon and India before entering Middle East airspace. Aircraft from Singapore and Far East nations typically enter via Malaysian airspace. Some aircraft access Pakistan's airspace after India before proceeding to the Middle the closure, aircraft were directed via Mumbai to Muscat across the Arabian Sea and then east of Iraq and Turkiye before reaching Europe. MSID:: 121139183 413 |
News18
11-05-2025
- Business
- News18
'Unsung Hero': Mumbai Airport Praised For Seamlessly Handling Flight Surge Amid Pakistan Tensions
Last Updated: Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airlines on April 24 in response to India's diplomatic measures against them following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam After the closure of Pakistani airspace last month, which led to the rerouting of international flights, Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) was praised for its 'seamless" handling of the increased air traffic. Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airlines on April 24 in response to India's diplomatic measures against them following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed at least 26 people. 'One unsung hero in the entire India-Pakistan escalation is Mumbai Airport and its staff. Nobody's talking about it. But they should be," wrote a LinkedIn user, Arjun Vaidya. 'While of course the media and all of us zoomed in on missiles, ceasefires, politics and military ops – Mumbai ATC was holding India's sky together. Silently. Seamlessly." 'Some 130 flights from Northern India for destinations in Europe, North and South America would take the Bhopal-Ahmedabad-Karachi route to Muscat, without touching Mumbai airspace, from where they would enter Europe. Now, after the closure of the Pakistani airspace, all these flights are coming to Mumbai airspace via Ahmedabad to enter Muscat," they added. The traffic has also spiked on account of the recent closure of about 25 flight routes on Wednesday that allowed planes to enter Pakistan through Indian airspace, when the armed forces launched missile attacks on terror targets in Pakistan, as per sources. On April 30, India also shut its airspace to Pakistan airlines as part of the retaliatory measure. On a normal day, Mumbai ATC handles between 950-970 arrivals and departures, including unscheduled flights, apart from some 2,000 flights overflying Mumbai skies. (With agency inputs) First Published: May 12, 2025, 03:51 IST
Business Upturn
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
India to USA, India to Europe flight durations extended up to 4 hours after Pakistan denies airspace access
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on April 24, 2025, 21:46 IST Flight times from India to the US and Europe are set to increase significantly after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers. The move, which comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries, has forced airlines to reroute aircraft through southern air corridors, adding hours to already lengthy international flights. According to officials, flights from Delhi to Europe are expected to take approximately 2.5 hours longer, while those heading to the United States may be delayed by up to 4 hours due to mandatory refueling stops in Europe. This disruption affects aircraft that previously overflew Pakistani airspace, particularly over Lahore and Karachi, en route from northern Indian cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. Mumbai ATC braces for 120 extra flights per day, says report With this sudden rerouting, Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) has become the central hub for managing international flights from northern India. Flights are now being diverted southward to enter Mumbai's airspace, fly over the Arabian Sea and Oman, and proceed to their respective destinations in Europe, the UK, or the US. To handle the surge — estimated at an additional 120 international flights per day — Mumbai ATC has deployed extra air traffic controllers, especially in the oceanic control division, which monitors aircraft flying over long stretches of international waters, as reported by CNBC-TV 18. Not the first time This isn't the first time India has faced such a disruption. A similar scenario unfolded in 2019, when Pakistani airspace closure forced Mumbai ATC to manage over 550 extra international flights, all taking longer detour routes to reach destinations in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Operational strain and rising costs The airspace shutdown is expected to increase fuel consumption, crew deployment, and maintenance cycles — all of which will result in higher operating costs for airlines. The added pressure on Indian aviation infrastructure could also impact schedules and passenger convenience, particularly for long-haul international routes. Aviation authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to maintain safety and efficiency despite the detours. However, until access to Pakistani airspace is restored, passengers should brace for longer journeys and potential delays on flights to the West. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
