Urban Acres | National Aviation Analysis Desk | May 12, 2025
Mumbai’s airspace has become a congested corridor as Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian carriers has forced hundreds of international flights to reroute over India’s financial capital. With nearly 130 flights from Northern India and 250 from Southeast Asia now being diverted through Mumbai’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), the city is experiencing a surge in air traffic — a staggering 20% rise in workload.
The situation, triggered by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, has disrupted not only passenger flights but also vital cargo operations. Airlines bound for Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas are now taking longer, fuel-guzzling detours over the Arabian Sea, resulting in delays of up to 2.5 hours.
The economic toll is mounting. Air India has projected a $600 million loss over the next year due to the extended routes, while other carriers, including Lufthansa and Air France, are also reeling under operational cost surges. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s ATC is grappling with unprecedented congestion as airways originally meant to handle domestic traffic now bear the brunt of redirected international routes.
Adding to the crisis, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has closed 25 air traffic service routes in the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions until May 15, exacerbating the congestion. The logistical chaos not only threatens flight safety but also raises serious concerns about airspace management as India finds itself caught in the crossfire of a geopolitical standoff.
As the skies over Mumbai remain jam-packed, the question looms: How long can the city’s air corridors sustain this unscheduled influx before the pressure reaches a critical point?
India-Pakistan Airspace Clash Puts Mumbai Skies on the Edge
