Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Pakistan Airspace Closure Deepens West Asia War’s Airline Impact
A war in West Asia disrupted many flight routes around India.
At the same time, Pakistan stopped Indian airlines from flying through its airspace.
This forced Indian airlines to take longer routes, use more fuel, and sometimes stop to refuel.
Flights to West Asia were also reduced because that region was affected by the conflict.
As a result, Indian airlines carried far fewer international passengers.
Foreign airlines did not face the same Pakistani airspace restriction.
Some foreign carriers even added flights using aircraft that were no longer needed on West Asian routes.
Foreign airlines therefore gained market share while Indian airlines lost it.
Akasa Air was the only Indian airline in the analysis to report higher international passenger numbers.
International passenger traffic to and from India fell 9.1% year-on-year to 1.72 crore in April-June.
Indian airlines’ international passenger numbers dropped 26.6%, while foreign carriers’ traffic rose 6%.
Foreign airlines increased their market share from 53.8% to 62.7%, while Indian carriers fell to 37.3%.
Pakistan’s airspace closure forced Indian airlines to take longer, costlier routes and suspend some services.
Air India, IndiGo, and Air India Express lost passengers, while Emirates, Saudia, and several other foreign airlines gained traffic.
- Who
- Indian airlines, foreign airlines, and passengers traveling to and from India.
- What
- International passenger traffic declined overall, but Indian airlines lost substantially more traffic than foreign carriers.
- When
- April-June of the current financial year; Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and airlines on April 24, 2025.
- Where
- On international routes to and from India, particularly routes involving West Asia, Europe, the Caucasus, the United Kingdom, and eastern North America.
- Why
- The West Asia conflict disrupted flights and increased fuel costs, while Pakistan’s airspace closure forced Indian carriers onto longer and more expensive routes.
- Total international traffic
- 1.72 crore passengers in April-June, down 9.1% year-on-year.
- Indian carriers
- 64.2 lakh international passengers, down 26.6% year-on-year.
- Foreign carriers
- 1.08 crore passengers, up 6% from 1.02 crore a year earlier.
- Market share shift
- Foreign airlines rose to 62.7% from 53.8%; Indian airlines fell to 37.3% from 46.2%.
- Pakistan airspace closure
- Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and airlines on April 24, 2025, with both countries subsequently extending restrictions.
- Flights affected
- Around 800 weekly Indian airline departures and arrivals were adversely affected.
- Notable Indian exception
- Akasa Air’s international passenger traffic rose 26% year-on-year to 1.72 lakh.