New Delhi, April 24: Leading Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo have announced the rerouting of several international flights after Pakistan abruptly closed its airspace to Indian airlines, following rising diplomatic tensions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Air India confirmed that due to the restriction, its flights to and from North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East will now operate via extended alternative routes. “Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure, which is beyond our control. The safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority,” the airline stated in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Similarly, IndiGo announced that “a few of our international flights are being impacted” and advised passengers to check for the latest updates, explore flexible rebooking options, or request refunds through its website. “We understand the inconvenience and are doing our best to assist passengers during this disruption,” the airline said in its update.
The development follows an emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which endorsed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ recommendations to immediately close Pakistan’s airspace to Indian carriers.
Escalating the diplomatic standoff, Islamabad also warned that India’s recent decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would be regarded as an “act of war.” Pakistan stated that it would use all aspects of its national power to counter any unilateral decisions by India.
The airspace closure is expected to impact flight durations and increase operational costs for Indian airlines, with ripple effects across international travel routes.
