India-Pakistan Conflict 2025: Airline Disruptions & Tourism Crisis | Explera DMC
The escalating military conflict between India and Pakistan has triggered widespread disruptions in global aviation and tourism, with airlines scrambling to reroute flights, governments issuing travel advisories, and tourism operators bracing for economic fallout. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the impacts
Airlines Forced to Reroute or Cancel Flights
Airspace Closures:
- Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft following India’s missile strikes on May 7, while India reciprocated by banning Pakistani-registered and military flights until May 23.
- Major international carriers like Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, and British Airways are avoiding Pakistani airspace entirely, opting for detours over Iran, the Arabian Sea, or the UAE. These reroutes add 2–4 hours to flight times, increasing fuel costs and operational strainMajor international carriers like Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, and British Airways are avoiding Pakistani airspace entirely, opting for detours over Iran, the Arabian Sea, or the UAE. These reroutes add 2–4 hours to flight times, increasing fuel costs and operational strain.
- Thai Airways rerouted flights to Europe and South Asia starting May 7, while Singapore Airlines suspended overflights of PakistanThai Airways rerouted flights to Europe and South Asia starting May 7, while Singapore Airlines suspended overflights of Pakistan\
Cancellations and Delays:
Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet canceled over 300 flights to northern Indian cities like Srinagar, Amritsar, and Jammu due to airport closures and airspace restrictions
Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air suspended routes to Lahore and Amritsar, while Korean Air diverted its Seoul-Dubai flights via Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Pakistan’s airspace saw only four domestic flights operational post-strikes, with international traffic plummeting to near-zero
Global Ripple Effects:
Flights from Europe to Asia now face extended routes, such as Lufthansa’s Delhi-Frankfurt path veering toward the Arabian Sea.
EVA Air and China Airlines rerouted Europe-bound flights via Bangkok or Prague for refueling, while Vietnam Airlines adjusted schedules to avoid conflict zones
Key Routes and Airlines Most Affected.
AirlineImpactAir India Cancelled 165+ flights; Europe/N. America routes detour via Arabian Sea.Thai AirwaysRerouted Europe/S. Asia flights; delays expected.LufthansaAvoiding Pakistan; Delhi-Frankfurt flights extended by 3 hours.EmiratesDiverted Delhi/Dubai routes to avoid conflict zones.Malaysia AirlinesSuspended Amritsar/Lahore routes indefinitely.Korean AirDubai flights rerouted via Myanmar/Bangladesh.