New Delhi – Several major international airlines have begun to avoid Pakistani airspace, citing the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. This decision follows the recent surge in conflict between the two neighboring nations, triggered by the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22nd, which claimed 26 lives.
The Pahalgam attack led to a series of strong diplomatic responses from India, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and accusations of Pakistani involvement in the assault. Pakistan retaliated by reportedly closing its airspace to Indian aircraft.
Amidst this escalating scenario, international carriers, including prominent European airlines like Air France and Germany’s Lufthansa, have opted to reroute their flights to ensure the safety of their passengers and crew.
The Lufthansa Group, in a statement to Reuters, confirmed its decision to steer clear of Pakistani airspace. “The Lufthansa Group will be avoiding Pakistani airspace until further notice,” the statement read, underscoring the airline’s cautious approach to the volatile situation.
While the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Reuters, flight monitoring data analyzed by Dawn, a Pakistani news outlet, revealed significant deviations in flight paths. Several flights operated by British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, and Emirates, after traversing the Arabian Sea, were observed making northward turns towards Delhi, effectively circumventing Pakistani airspace.
Air France also issued an official statement acknowledging the rerouting of its flights. “Due to the recent evolution of tensions between India and Pakistan, Air France has decided to suspend overflight of Pakistan until further notice,” the airline stated. This precautionary measure has resulted in extended flight durations for Air France services to destinations such as Delhi, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.
The decision by these international airlines to avoid Pakistani airspace highlights the significant impact of the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict on global air travel. The rerouting of flights is likely to cause delays and increased operational costs for the affected airlines and potentially impact travel schedules for passengers. The situation remains fluid, and further adjustments to flight paths by other international carriers cannot be ruled out as tensions between India and Pakistan persist.
