Air India Considers India Fuel Stops to Avoid Pakistan Airspace
Air India is evaluating the possibility of introducing domestic fuel stops at Mumbai or Ahmedabad for flights departing Delhi to North America, as a workaround to avoid closed Pakistani airspace, sources told the Press Trust of India.
The airline, currently forced to make overseas technical stops in Copenhagen and Vienna, is looking to reduce such disruptions. CEO Campbell Wilson confirmed in an internal memo that the airline is “making good progress” in identifying alternatives and aims to restore more non-stop operations soon.
With Pakistan’s airspace closed since April 24 following a terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Air India has been forced to reroute many of its long-haul flights, significantly increasing flight times, fuel costs, and logistical challenges. The airline has pegged the annual cost of these detours at nearly USD 600 million.
To manage extended flying times, Air India temporarily secured exemptions from some crew working-time regulations, although India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has clarified these are only interim approvals.
By refueling in western India, the carrier could potentially eliminate international tech stops, easing operational pressures and crew scheduling.
Currently, Air India flies from Delhi to Chicago, JFK, Newark, Toronto, and Washington Dulles. Vancouver and San Francisco services from Delhi remain unaffected. From Mumbai, it operates to JFK, Newark, and San Francisco.
The closure of Pakistani airspace, and reciprocal bans by India, continue to strain bilateral air travel and impact airline costs and scheduling across the region.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com