Several top Western airlines avoiding Pakistan airspace voluntarily: Report

As tensions continue simmering between India and Pakistan in view of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, both nations have retaliated against each other with measures including diplomatic and otherwise.

India, earlier on April 23, announced several diplomatic measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down the land-border crossing between the two countries at Punjab's Attari, and downgrading diplomatic ties. Following this, Pakistan on April 24, barred Indian airlines from using its airspace.

The airspace closure has resulted in longer flying hours, higher fuel consumption, payload and aircraft availability issues, as well as crew flying duty time extension challenges for airlines. All west-bound flights flying from north Indian cities, including Delhi, are now taking alternative longer routes over the Arabian Sea.

But it is not just Indian airlines that are avoiding the Pakistan airspace. A report in NDTV has said that several carriers from the West are also avoiding the Pakistani airspace voluntarily.

Despite not being banned from using Pakistan airspace, Lufthansa, British Airways, Swiss, Air France, ITA of Italy, and LOT of Poland chose to avoid the Pakistan airspace amid tensions with India.

Pakistan is staring at a loss of millions due to missing out on overflight fees that airlines pay for using a country's airspace, the report added.

But losses are on both sides as well. While Pakistan faces at losing millions, Indian carriers are also looking at higher costs in trying to avoid the neighbouring country's airspace.

On May 1, Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo submitted their inputs on the impact of the Pakistan airspace closure to the airlines ministry.

Air India has reportedly said that the additional expenses in case the airspace closure is in place for a year would be around $600 million and has sought some kind of financial assistance to tackle the situation.

Meanwhile, on April 30, India also barred Pakistan airlines from using its airspace as part of retaliatory measures.