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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) rerouted its flights over Chinese airspace after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, according to details shared by aviation authorities in Karachi.
The first rerouted flight, PK-898, departed from Lahore and is headed to Kuala Lumpur using Chinese airspace instead of the usual Indian airspace route.
This flight carried more than 120 passengers and marked a major operational shift for PIA’s international routes towards Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia.
Under normal circumstances, PIA flights to Malaysia used Indian airspace, significantly shortening travel times. The new route is expected to slightly increase flight durations.
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Officials said that despite the longer route, all efforts are being made to minimize inconvenience to passengers and ensure smooth operations throughout the journey.
Meanwhile, Indian airlines are facing serious difficulties following the closure of Pakistani airspace, which has severely affected their international flight schedules and costs.
Flights from India to Europe and the United States are now longer, forcing airlines to use more fuel and bear higher operational expenses.
Travel experts noted that the longer flight durations have led to an increase in ticket prices, causing additional burden on passengers traveling from India.
The closure has particularly impacted flights to Central Asia, Western Europe, Western Asia, the United Kingdom, and the United States from major Indian cities.
Reports suggest that within 48 hours of Pakistan’s airspace closure, more than 70 Indian flights faced serious disruptions and longer detours.
Indian airlines are now incurring millions of rupees in extra costs daily due to longer flight paths, greater fuel consumption, and added time delays.
Aviation analysts predict that the ongoing situation could affect flight schedules for weeks, causing cancellations, rescheduling, and even fewer passengers booking flights.
