New Delhi: In a major diplomatic fallout following the Pahalgam terror attack, several leading European airlines have begun rerouting their flights to avoid Pakistani airspace. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Swiss, Air France, ITA Airways (Italy), and LOT Polish Airlines have, for the past two days, been operating via alternate routes—delivering a significant financial setback to Pakistan.
The rerouting is leading to extended flight times of up to an hour for aircraft bound for India, increasing fuel consumption and operational costs. More critically, the decision is expected to cost Pakistan crores in lost overflight fees, compounding its economic woes.
Previously, restrictions on Pakistani airspace applied only to Indian airlines due to ongoing tensions. With top European carriers now voluntarily joining the boycott, Pakistan finds itself facing growing global isolation in the aviation sector.
