Pakistan's airline services face a suspension in Indian airspace amid escalating tensions.

Finger-Pointing, Flight-Halting: The Latest Between India and Pakistan

It's been a week of airspace drama between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, following the bloody attack on tourists in Kashmir. India shut its airspace to Pakistani airlines on Wednesday, a move that could potentially impact over 800 weekly flights, primarily serving routes to Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Central Asia 1. The ban will last from late April 2025 until at least May 25, 2025 2.

In response, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his anger in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, categorically rejecting any links of Pakistan to the fatal incident and urging the U.S. to encourage India for cooler heads 3. He also appealed for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation, saying the nations should dial down their rhetoric and act responsibly 3.

Meanwhile, Pakistan isn't taking any chances, having claimed they have "credible intelligence" that India prepares to launch a military action soon 3. The escalating tensions have already led to a string of measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty 3.

As for India, it has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, who are being labeled as terrorists orchestrating a violent uprising in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Pakistan, however, has denied any involvement and called for a neutral investigation 3.

So, what does this all mean for the aviation industry? Well, Indian airlines like IndiGo have already halted flights to Almaty and Tashkent, as these routes become unfeasible without overflying Pakistan 4. Airlines like Air India and others are now faced with additional fuel costs and longer flight times, potentially adding 15 minutes to several hours per flight 1.

Another casualty could be hundreds of millions in annual overflight fees that Pakistan stands to lose, given that India's aviation market is among the world’s largest and fastest-growing 1.

With both nations seemingly engaged in a game of brinkmanship, it remains to be seen how long this latest round of tensions will last. In the meantime, passengers should brace themselves for bumpy flights ahead, as well as potential travel disruptions.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member Marco Rubio received a call from Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who disputed any association with the Kashmir attacks and urged the US to influence India towards moderation, as reported in General News and Politics.
Amid this escalating tension, airlines like IndiGo have suspended flights to Almaty and Tashkent due to unfeasible routes that require overflying Pakistan, causing additional fuel costs and longer flight times, as covered in Crime and Justice.
In a potential blow to Pakistan's economy, they could lose hundreds of millions in annual overflight fees due to India's airspace closure, as India's aviation market is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world, as reported in General News and Business.
Pakistani officials have claimed to have reliable intelligence suggesting that India may soon launch a military action, further straining relations between the two countries days after India suspended routes for Pakistani airlines, according to Crime and Justice and General News.