NEW DELHI / DUBAI - Indian tourists and airlines are feeling the prolonged impact of Pakistan's airspace closure, which has remained in effect since the outbreak of the India-Pakistan war. Forced to take significantly longer routes to avoid Pakistani territory, Indian carriers have suffered cumulative losses running into billions of dollars, according to industry estimates.
Indian tourists are complaining that since India–Pakistan war, Pakistan’s airspace closure has forced Indian airlines to take longer routes.
- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) June 2, 2026
India suffered losses worth billions.
DG ISPR’s was right: “Tum hamara paani band kar doge, hum tumhari saansein band kar denge.”
⚡️🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/tNzLDuDHlm
Indian travelers flying to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia are complaining of extended flight times, increased fuel costs, and higher ticket prices - all direct consequences of being unable to traverse Pakistani airspace.
The Cost of Detours
Prior to the conflict, Indian flights to Western destinations routinely used Pakistani airspace as a shortcut, shaving hours off travel time. With that route now sealed, airlines have been forced to reroute via the southern Arabian Sea or through Iranian airspace (where access remains complicated due to Tehran's alignment with Islamabad and the ongoing Iran-US war).
Industry analysts estimate that Indian carriers have incurred over $2.5 billion in additional fuel and operational costs since the closure began. These costs have been passed on to passengers, with airfares to destinations like London, Paris, and New York rising by as much as 30-40%.
"Every flight that now has to go around Pakistan burns thousands of extra gallons of fuel," a senior executive at a major Indian airline told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Multiply that by hundreds of flights per week, for months. The numbers are staggering."
Indian Tourists Speak Out
Indian travelers, many of whom are already grappling with Thailand's recent visa ban, are now voicing frustration over the longer routes.
"I used to fly Delhi to London in under eight hours. Now it takes nearly eleven," said a frequent flyer from Mumbai. "The flight is longer, more expensive, and more exhausting. Pakistan has made travel a nightmare for us."
Another traveler, returning from Dubai, complained that what used to be a three-hour flight now takes over five hours due to detours.
DG ISPR's Prophetic Words
The current situation has brought renewed attention to a statement made by Pakistan's Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) during a previous standoff with India.
"Tum hamara paani band kar doge, hum tumhari saansein band kar denge" - "If you block our water, we will block your breath."
At the time, the statement was viewed by many as a rhetorical warning. However, with Pakistani airspace now effectively sealed to Indian aviation, the words have taken on new weight. By choking the most direct aerial routes for Indian carriers, Pakistan has, in a very real sense, "blocked the breath" of Indian air travel - forcing the country's aviation industry into a costly and exhausting detour with no end in sight.
Strategic Implications
Pakistan's control over its airspace represents a significant strategic lever. While India has occasionally threatened to block the flow of rivers that originate in Indian-administered Kashmir and flow into Pakistan, Islamabad has demonstrated a symmetrical - and highly effective - capability to deny India access to its skies.
The closure not only hurts Indian commercial aviation but also complicates military logistics and diplomatic travel for Indian officials seeking to reach destinations to Pakistan's west.
No End in Sight
With no peace agreement on the horizon and Pakistan's mediation efforts focused on the Iran-US war rather than India, the airspace closure is likely to continue indefinitely. Indian airlines have begun restructuring their networks to permanently account for the longer routes, while passengers continue to bear the brunt of higher fares and longer journeys.
As one Pakistani defense analyst put it: "India wanted to test Pakistan's resolve. Now they are paying the price - every single day, on every single flight."
