IndiGo has introduced the suspension of its Delhi-Tashkent and Delhi-Almaty flights till at least May 7, 2025, following the closure of Pakistan’s airspace to Indian vendors. The airline stated extended flight times and operational boundaries as key reasons behind the transient halt.
Increase in IndiGo flight time on 50 Intl routes
In a official statement, IndiGo said around 50 of its international routes now require longer flight routes due to the confined airspace. “With the equal restrictions and confined rerouting options, unfortunately, Almaty and Tashkent are outside the operational variety of IndiGo’s modern fleet. Hence, flights to Almaty stand cancelled from April 27 until, as a minimum May 7 and to Tashkent from April 28 until May 7, 2025,” the airline stated.
The closure has pressured carriers to take circuitous routes, increasing flight durations by 80 to 90 minutes for positive sectors. IndiGo’s fleet, which broadly speaking includes the Airbus A320 family plane, cannot perform in some of these extended sectors due to a variety of obstacles.
Some flights to take alternative routes
Air India had earlier stated that a number of its international flights could undertake “alternative prolonged routes” because of the Pakistani airspace closure. However, the airline has not clarified whether these technical halts become ordinary characteristics.
This disruption draws parallels with the scenario in 2019 when Pakistan closed its airspace for numerous months following the Balakot airstrikes. At the time, IndiGo was being pressured to make similar modifications, which included frequent technical halts for long-haul routes.
With no official timeline for the reopening of Pakistan’s airspace, similar timetable modifications and operational demanding situations are probable for Indian companies working westbound international flights.
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