Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and the resulting spike in tensions between India and Pakistan, major international carriers such as Lufthansa and Air France have begun rerouting flights to avoid Pakistani airspace, according to flight tracking data observed on Monday.
This comes after India closed its airspace to Pakistani carriers. Meanwhile, Pakistan also implemented restrictions on Indian operations, while continuing to allow international airlines access, albeit with additional controls on trade and special visa arrangements for Indian citizens.
Lufthansa Group confirmed to Reuters that its flights would avoid Pakistani airspace indefinitely, citing longer journey times on routes to Asian destinations. Data from Flightradar24 indicated that Lufthansa’s Frankfurt-to-Delhi flight (LH760) required an additional hour of flight time on Sunday due to the revised routing. These changes not only affect airline operations by increasing fuel usage and flight durations but also result in lost overflight revenue for Pakistan, which typically earns hundreds of dollars per flight based on aircraft weight and distance covered.
Additionally, flight tracking systems showed aircraft operated by British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, and Emirates opting for more northerly paths, rerouting via Delhi and bypassing Pakistani territory after crossing the Arabian Sea. British Airways and Emirates have not yet commented publicly on the matter.
Air France officially announced its suspension of overflight permissions across Pakistan for an indefinite period, citing rising regional instability. The carrier attributed this decision to the “recent evolution of tensions” between India and Pakistan.
India-Pakistan relations have been tense since 26 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, marking the worst attack since Pulwama in 2019. Some measures taken by India against Pakistan include closing the Indian airspace and suspending the Indus water treaty and stopping all forms of trade.
The central government implemented sweeping restrictions, prohibiting all imports from Pakistan, whether direct or through intermediary nations, along with postal services and parcel deliveries from the neighbouring country.
The administration also restricted Pakistan-registered vessels from entering Indian ports and banned Indian ships from accessing Pakistani harbours, indicating a tougher position amidst worsening diplomatic relations. “This comprehensive ban, including indirect imports, will enable custom authorities to prevent Pakistani goods from entering India through circumvention,” an official told TOI.
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