New Delhi:
Major airlines like Air France and Lufthansa have decided to avoid flying through Pakistan airspace due to increasing tensions in the region, following terrorist attacks linked to Pakistan that resulted in 26 casualties in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In light of recent tensions between India and Pakistan, the airline has opted to suspend flights over Pakistan until further notice,” Air France stated.
Likewise, Lufthansa announced that its flights “will steer clear of Pakistan’s airspace indefinitely.”
Flight tracking information indicates that several international carriers are now taking longer routes to bypass Pakistan’s airspace to mitigate potential risks.
Lufthansa pointed out that avoiding Pakistan’s airspace may extend flight durations on certain routes to Asia, adding that it will continue to monitor developments in the region.
Data from flight trackers reveal that airlines such as British Airways, Swiss Airlines, and Emirates are also altering their routes away from Pakistan, resulting in longer flights and higher fuel consumption.
This avoidance of Pakistan’s airspace may also impact financial revenue for these major airlines due to the additional flight fees incurred.
Air India and Indigo have already stated that their international flights will take alternative routes following Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to India amidst escalating diplomatic tensions after the Pahargam attacks.
Indigo mentioned that its international services will require longer flight segments, thus minimizing the use of Pakistan’s airspace, which may result in slight scheduling adjustments.
Additionally, the airline has cancelled flights to Almati and Tashkent as those destinations are beyond the capabilities of its current fleet.
Air India also noted that its flights between North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East will adopt longer routes, leading to increased travel times and fuel expenses.
