Air India has suffered losses of around Rs 300 crore since late February as its long haul flights from New Delhi are taking longer to reach destinations in Europe, the Gulf and the US because of the closure of Pakistan’s airspace.
The Pakistani airspace has remained shut for traffic to andfrom India ever since hostilities broke out between the two countries after thePulwama suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14.
With its aircraft operating from New Delhi spending longertime in air, Air India is incurring daily loss of Rs 6 crore on extra fuelburn, cabin staff expenses and reduced flights.
The national carrier has approached the Civil AviationMinistry to ensure it is compensated for the loss given that the airline cannotpull out these flights due to various obligations.
“Air India has communicated to us about this. It isbeing taken up with all concerned,” a Ministry official said.
The Air India flights to the US from Delhi now take 2-3hours extra one way due to the restrictions over Pakistani airspace. Flights toEurope are taking almost two hours more resulting in financial loss.
Almost the entire air traffic from South East Asia to Europehas also been impacted as they would pass through north India into Pakistan andonwards.
American carrier United has temporarily suspended itsDelhi-Newark flight and is monitoring the situation.
German flag carrier Lufthansa had said earlier that connections to Bangkok and Singapore would also be hit besides operations to India. “We are already preparing adjusted routes and will increase the amount of additional fuel in the event of delays. Some traffic rights for the new routing must also be secured,” the airline had said on closure of Pakistani airspace.