Pakistan airspace closure hits countries hard
Post-Balakot strike, the Pakistan airspace closure was in effect. This event has inconvenienced India quite a bit. Flights have had to be re-routed and that has led to a significant increase in flying time and cost. But this has impacted Pakistan as well. The neighbouring country has lost $100 million (around Rs 688 crore). Since February, around 400 flights a day are skipping the Pakistani airspace.
Since the Balakot attack the Indian Air Force on February 26, the Pakistan airspace closure was in effect. It has only opened 2 of the 11 air routes. Moreover, both of them pass through Southern Pakistan. On May 31, the IAF announced that all temporary restrictions imposed on Indian airspace pos the Balakot strike have been removed.
The main loss to Pakistan is being contributed the lack of air toll. Airlines are bound to pay a certain fee to the civil aviation administration of the country they are flying over. This fee is based on various factors like the aircraft’s gross weight, the type of aircraft, the distance covered, etc. All airspaces are not that expensive. It all depends on the conditions such as the amount of airspace owned the country among other things. For example, the USA has a very low air toll. The reason for that is US airspace extends all the way up to the Phillippines. Thus, they can afford to charge less air toll for equal distances travelled compared to other countries.
Due to the Pakistan airspace closure, national carrier Air India lost Rs 491 crore till July 2. Private airlines like SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir lost Rs. 30.37 crores, Rs. 25.1 crore and Rs. 2.1 crore, respectively.
The Pakistan airspace closure has sure hit countries hard. But Islamabad has been worst hit it. The Balakot attack has really left a mark on Pakistan’s economy.
