Air Travel Challenges for Indian Carriers amidst West Asia Conflict

Air travel in India is facing a major challenge due to the ongoing volatile situation in West Asia. This has resulted in longer and costlier routes for Indian carriers, leading to a surge in operational costs. Since February 28th, most West-bound flights from India have been avoiding Iranian airspace and its adjoining regions, including Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE. This is due to the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel, which has forced Indian carriers to take longer and more expensive routes.

The impact of this conflict is being felt most in flights to Europe, North America, and the Gulf region. Flights to countries like the UK, France, Germany, the US, Canada, and the Gulf countries have been severely affected. The number of daily flights to the Gulf has plunged from 300-350 to just 80-90, resulting in around 2,000 cancellations per week. This has led to a surge in international airfares, making travel more expensive for Indian fliers.

The closure of Pakistan airspace since the Pahalgam terror attack in February 2019 has added to the challenges faced by Indian carriers. Global average jet fuel prices have also seen a sharp rise of nearly 100% in a month, from Rs. 9,300 per barrel at the end of February to over Rs. 18,000 in the last week of March. This has resulted in a revision of fuel surcharges by the Air India group on both domestic and international routes.

This situation has had a cascading effect on various industries, including tourism, exports, healthcare, and education. The impact of airspace closures is not limited to just Gulf routes, but also affects other major corridors such as Europe and North America.

Flights from India to Europe and North America are now taking longer, more circuitous routes, resulting in increased fuel consumption, higher operational costs, and longer travel times for passengers. This has led to a surge in airfares and a decrease in demand for travel, particularly for corporate and vacation travel.

Indian carriers are estimated to operate around 3,000 fewer flights in a week for the March-October period due to rising costs and uncertainty caused by the situation in West Asia. The disruptions in flights to and from India are estimated to cost Indian and international carriers nearly 8. 75 billion dollars (approximately Rs. 8. 06 lakh crore) each week.

The closure of airspace has also resulted in congestion in the “safe” corridors in West Asia, leading to longer flight times and increased fuel consumption. This has further added to the financial burden on airlines and has resulted in multiple flight cancellations and technical stops for refueling.

Passengers have been left stranded and helpless due to sudden cancellations and disruptions caused by the conflict.