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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 16
Pakistan’s revocation of a four-and-a-half month closure of its airspace with India has brought relief to a host of airlines as well as thousands of Afghans and Central Asians travelling to India for treatment.
The worst affected was India’s flag carrier Air India, which suffered about Rs 500-crore losses as it was forced to reroute several flights due to the closure of the airspace. Several airlines from Central Asia stopped their flights to India altogether.
Air Astana from Kazakhstan said it will also resume flights after suspending them due to doubling of flight time while carriers from UAE will no longer have to spend extra 25 per cent fuel and an extra hour of flight time. International passengers from the US, Canada and Europe to Punjab and Delhi too will breathe easier as will travellers who were taking transit flights to Europe from other countries.
Pakistan shut its airspace immediately after the Balakot air strikes on February 27 and later relented by opening two of the 11 air corridors in its airspace. But these were of limited relevance to India as most fights to the west and north-west had to incur extra air miles to their destinations.
The issue had international repercussions with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani bringing it up during his meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. In Afghanistan, there was unrest in some parts after fruits could not be exported to India due to curtailment of flights on the India-Afghan air corridor.
In central Farah province, farmers expressed their annoyance by disgorging watermelons on the main highway. Patients have had a hard time reaching India as airfares more than doubled due to fewer flights and longer airtime, said Tahir Qadiry, Charge d’ Affaires at the Afghan embassy here.
A month back, a Pakistani official explained Islamabad’s inability to open the airspace on grounds that the current positioning of Indian fighter aircraft was two-three minute of flight time from the border, which was too less for Pakistan’s comfort.
An Air India official said US-bound flights had to be stopped at Vienna for change of crew, which took three hours. “After cancellation of NOTAMS (a notice to airmen) by Pakistan and India in the early hours today, there are no restrictions on airspaces of both countries, bringing significant relief for airlines and passengers,” the Civil Aviation Ministry tweeted.
OPS cost to fall
WHY THE DELAY
Pak said Indian jets were two-three minute of flight time from border — too less for its comfort
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