



How the West Asia conflict adds to Indian airlines' turbulence
₹199- ₹2,300, depending on the nature of the flight. With Pakistan airspace already shut for Indian airlines, the disruption in flight routes through West Asia has increased travel time and cost.The financial damage of such disruptions would mount quickly for Indian airlines.
Kinjal Shah, senior vice president, corporate ratings at Icra Ltd, said operations to West Asia make up 15-20% of the Indian aviation industry’s revenues. “These disruptions have resulted in not just revenue loss, but also higher costs, from additional airport charges as more aircraft remain on ground, to higher fuel costs due to longer routings,” said Shah.
As the war started, Iran’s attacks on nearly all its neighbouring countries brought flight operations to a halt. Flight routes to and through the UAE, Iran, Israel, and Iraq, among others, remain critically disrupted.
By some estimates, over 50,000 flights have been cancelled globally and over 2,000 by Indian airlines since the beginning of the war.The upcoming schedule of Indian airlines is also facing uncertainty, as Gulf countries account for a majority of international business. Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows that the core Gulf countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—accounted for 51% of the total international passenger traffic in 2025.A Mint analysis of the winter schedule of 3,288 international flights during 14-28 March shows that Indian airlines’ international business is facing extreme pressure.
Read on livemint.com