Indian carriers apologise to passengers as longer flight times and re-routing come into effect
New Delhi: Major Indian airlines operating between the UAE and India have announced delays and extended flight durations following Pakistan’s sudden decision to close its airspace to Indian carriers, reported gulfnews.com.
India’s national carrier, Air India, issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that international flights to destinations across the Middle East, North America, the UK, and Europe could face delays or be rerouted. The airline noted that the airspace restriction, imposed by Pakistan, was beyond its control, and assured passengers that safety remains its top priority.
Passengers flying to and from the UAE are advised to prepare for longer travel times as Air India and IndiGo reroute flights around Pakistani airspace.
“Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an alternative extended route,” Air India said.
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India’s largest carrier by market share, IndiGo, echoed similar concerns, highlighting that some of its international flights would also be affected. “We understand the inconvenience this may cause and our teams are doing their best to help you reach your destination at the earliest,” IndiGo stated, while offering flexible rebooking and refund options to affected passengers.
Travel experts say while longer flight routes will increase journey times and fuel consumption, a spike in airfares is not anticipated at the moment.
Travel agents in the UAE confirmed that passengers flying to North and North-West Indian cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad could experience longer travel times due to rerouting over the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. However, there is no immediate expectation of rising airfares, offering some relief to travelers despite the disruptions.