Due to a Pakistani measure, Indian airlines are required to reroute. For Air India, this means that some flights are forced to make an additional layover.
Vienna Airport has now become an important hub for the airline. On Saturday morning alone, six Air India aircraft landed there to refuel. The five Boeing 777-300ERs and one Boeing 787-8 were all en route to or coming from North America. The planes were parked at special locations where they could be quickly refueled and continue their journey to the destination. It is expected that dozens of additional flight movements will occur daily due to this measure.
Schiphol
The closure of Pakistani airspace also impacts Air India flights between Schiphol and Delhi. Because of the rerouting, the flight takes approximately an extra hour and a half compared to usual. Not only does this increase travel time, but it also raises the airline’s operational costs. It is expected that, in the long term, ticket prices will increase by eight to twelve percent.
Attack
The Pakistani government closed its airspace after India held its neighboring country responsible for a bloody terrorist attack in the Indian part of Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. In response to the escalating conflict, India took measures such as suspending the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, closing a key border crossing with Pakistan, and expelling Pakistani diplomats. The airspace closure applies exclusively to aircraft that are either registered in India or owned by or leased to Indian operators.