Pakistan airspace a no-go, airlines in spot over cost of diverting flights

For Air India and Jet Airways, an airspace closure over Pakistan would mean their flights to the US and Europe will have to take a longer route

The escalation of military tension between India and Pakistan is set to have an adverse impact on the aviation industry, which is already under stress. Wednesday’s decision on closure of airspace in Pakistan and parts of northern India will force airlines to cancel or divert some flights, thereby pushing up cost.

As Pakistani fighter jets targeted Indian establishments across the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday, the Western Command of the Indian Air Force asked airlines to stop operations to several airports, including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Pathankot, Amritsar, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu Manali and Pithoragarh. While more than 30 flights were