Major Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo announced on Thursday that several of their international flights will be rerouted following Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace to Indian airlines. The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries in the aftermath of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Air India stated that due to the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers, several of its flights to and from North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East will now operate on extended alternative routes.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace restriction, which is beyond our control,” the airline said in a statement posted on social media platform X. “At Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority.”
IndiGo also confirmed disruptions to some of its international flights, attributing them to the sudden airspace closure by Pakistan.
“A few of our international flights are being impacted,” the airline posted on X. “We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and our teams are working diligently to help passengers reach their destinations as quickly as possible. We encourage customers to check the latest flight status, and in case of disruptions, flexible rebooking options and refunds are available through our website.”
The decision to close airspace was taken during a high-level emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday. The committee endorsed recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate action in response to what it described as India’s “unilateral moves.”
