The airspace closure by Pakistan post Balakot Strike by the Indian Air Force has cost Indian airlines around ₹550 crore.
“The airspace closure by Pakistan is a unilateral measure that followed the air strike by the Indian Air Force, and it is for them to decide.” – Hardeep Singh Puri
- Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri told Rajya Sabha that airspace closure by Pakistan has costed Indian airlines around ₹550 crore.
- The flag carrier airline of India, Air India alone incurred a loss of ₹491 crore till July 2.
- IndiGo, Spicejet and Go Air suffered ₹25.1 crore, ₹30.73 crore and ₹2.1 crore loss respectively.
- The airspace closure by Pakistan is a unilateral measure that followed the air strike by the Indian Air Force in Balakot – Hardeep Singh Puri.
- Hardeep also told Rajya Sabha in the written response that it is for Pakistan to take the decision on the air space closure.
- Out of total 11 air routes, 9 are still closed by the neighbouring country since 26 February.
- The airlines have to bear the cost of longer flight times, fuel expenses and operational difficulties.
- The westbound flights from airports in northern India such as Delhi, Lucknow, Amritsar etc have been affected the worst.
