Air India is facing a larger operational and financial impact from airspace restrictions than it did last year, with longer routes, higher fuel consumption and additional airport charges affecting flights to Europe and North America, according to a senior company executive.
The Tata Group-owned airline has been rerouting some international flights since early last year after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers. The airline is now also dealing with restrictions affecting airspace in parts of the Gulf amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.
The senior Air India official said on Monday that the impact was significant but difficult to quantify. The official said the pressure was no longer limited to Pakistan’s airspace closure and also involved the situation linked to Iran, along with restrictions in countries including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The restrictions are forcing some flights to take longer southern routes. Longer flight paths increase flying time and fuel burn, raising the operating cost of each affected service. The official described the current impact as worse than the airline experienced last year.
For Air India, the changes affect an international network that connects Indian cities with destinations across Europe and North America. When airspace constraints require aircraft to avoid established corridors, airlines must adjust routes while continuing to operate services within the limits imposed by safety and regulatory conditions.
The additional flying time can also affect aircraft utilisation and crew planning. The information supplied by the airline official did not provide details on the number of flights affected, the routes that have been altered or the precise change in operating expenses.
Some flights may require a stopover because of the longer routing. A stopover creates further costs, including landing charges, in addition to the fuel expense associated with the extended journey. The official did not disclose the total financial impact of these measures.
The restrictions are also affecting flight and airport operations in the region as the Middle East conflict involving Iran continues. The extent of disruption can vary according to the airspace available at a given time and the route selected for each flight.
The developments add to the operational complications already created by the Pakistan airspace closure. Air India has been managing longer European and North American routes since early last year, and the newer restrictions in the Gulf are creating an additional layer of pressure on international services.
Air India has not, in the supplied report, announced a quantified estimate of the financial impact or provided a separate timeline for the continuation of the restrictions. The airline’s latest assessment is that the effect is greater than last year because more airspace constraints are now influencing route planning and operating costs.
