The India-Pakistan airspace conflict has disrupted global aviation, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.This disruption follows a deadly exchange of fire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors which led to airspace closures over northern India and southern Pakistan.
Disruption in Global Aviation Amid India-Pakistan Conflict
Flight monitoring data on Wednesday showed a near-total absence of civilian aircraft in Pakistan’s airspace and large parts of northern India. FlightRadar24 reported 52 cancellations to and from Pakistan, with 57 international flights still in its airspace during India’s airstrikes.
Karachi’s airport resumed limited activity after an eight-hour suspension.
India responded by shutting down several airports in its northern belt, affecting cities like Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, and Chandigarh. Air India, along with low-cost carriers like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, suspended operations to cities near the Pakistan border, stating cancellations would continue until at least May 10.
Global Ripple Effects on International Carriers
The ripple effects were felt far beyond South Asia. Malaysia Airlines cancelled its Amritsar flights and rerouted two long-haul routes. Indonesia’s Batik Air halted services to both Lahore and Amritsar. Dutch carrier KLM, Singapore Airlines, and Taiwan’s EVA Air also confirmed avoidance of Pakistani airspace. Korean Air rerouted its Seoul-Dubai flights through southern paths over Myanmar and Bangladesh, bypassing Pakistan entirely.
Taiwan’s China Airlines faced operational strain, forcing stopovers in Bangkok and Prague for fuel and crew changes. Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines also rerouted or delayed flights to South Asia and Europe. Lufthansa flights departing India were seen taking lengthier southern routes via the Arabian Sea, according to real-time tracking data.
Although Pakistan International Airlines later announced that national airspace was reopened, foreign carriers remain cautious. The uncertainty surrounding the situation, coupled with existing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, has made flight scheduling increasingly complex for international airlines.
With longer flight times, higher fuel consumption, and operational delays, the aviation industry is bracing for continued disruption. Until tensions ease, the India-Pakistan airspace conflict will remain a critical pressure point in regional and global air travel logistics.
