Indian airlines are set to incur steep operational costs of nearly ₹77 crore per week due to Pakistan's closure of its airspace following the Pahalgam terror attack. Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and others are now forced to take longer alternative routes for international flights departing from northern Indian cities. This diversion is leading to extended flight times up to 1.5 hours extra for routes to North America and Europe resulting in higher fuel burn, additional landing charges, and logistical challenges like crew duty limits and aircraft availability.

IndiGo has already cancelled flights to Almaty and Tashkent due to operational constraints. Analysts estimate that the monthly burden on Indian airlines could touch ₹307 crore. With over 6,000 international flights scheduled from India in April alone, the situation poses a major financial strain. So far, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have not announced flight cancellations, but the industry impact is already significant.