Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
International

Pakistan Opens Its Airspace, Closed Since Balakot Strike

Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Jul, 2019 06:18 PM

    Indian airlines are expected to benefit from shorter flight routes to Europe and other western destinations, as Pakistan removed complete airspace access restrictions on Tuesday.


    "After cancellation of NOTAMS by Pakistan and India in the early hours of Tuesday, there are no restrictions on airspaces of both countries, flights have started using the closed air routes, bringing a significant relief for airlines," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Twitter.


    On Tuesday morning, Pakistani authorities announced the complete reopening of the country's airspace for civilian flights, nearly five months after the military escalation with India.


    "With immediate effect Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes," according to a notice to airmen (NOTAM) published on the website of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority.


    In March, Pakistan had partially opened its airspace but kept it closed for Indian flights.


    The closure of Pakistan's airspace following air strikes by the Indian Air Force on February 26 in Balakot took a heavy financial toll on national carrier Air India.


    An Air India spokesperson: "Ever since Pakistani airspace was closed, we had to reroute our flights south of Pakistan. The flying time for long haul flights towards USA increased by 90 minutes and also addition fuel usage was needed."


    The airline's US-bound flights had to be stopped at Vienna to get a new crew.


    "As Pakistan airspace is now open aircraft utilisation will go up, while crew requirement will come down by 25 per cent," the spokesperson said in a statement.


    "Flight operation cost for USA-bound flights may come down by Rs 20 lakh on one-way and for Europe-bound flights, it may come down by Rs five lakh."


    Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri acknowledged in Parliament the financial strain that the airspace restrictions caused to Air India.


    From March till July 2, the national carrier had bore the brunt of an additional cost of Rs 490.6 crore due to the airspace restriction.


    According to IndiGo: "We are pleased with the latest development relating to the opening of the Pakistan airspace as announced today."


    "IndiGo flights flying via Pakistan will operate as normal after all regulatory clearances by the concerned authorities."


    The airline has a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines and operates flight services to Istanbul.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Extensive Repair Work On Taj Mahal Minar Begins

    Extensive Repair Work On Taj Mahal Minar Begins
    The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun extensive repair work on one of the four minarets of the iconic 17th century monument of love, the Taj Mahal.

    Extensive Repair Work On Taj Mahal Minar Begins

    Indian Expat Narendra Gajria Lost His Wife, 1 Million Dirhams Savings Blocked In Banks

    A Dubai-based Indian expat's savings worth 1 million dirhams ($272,242) had been blocked following his wife death as the couple had joint accounts with various banks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the media reported on Thursday.

    Indian Expat Narendra Gajria Lost His Wife, 1 Million Dirhams Savings Blocked In Banks

    US House Passes Bill Removing Country-cap On Issuing Green Cards

    US House Passes Bill Removing Country-cap On Issuing Green Cards
    A Green Card allows a non-US citizen to live and work permanently in America.

    US House Passes Bill Removing Country-cap On Issuing Green Cards

    Indian Gets Prison Sentence In Conspiracy To Smuggle People To US

    Indian Gets Prison Sentence In Conspiracy To Smuggle People To US
    An Indian citizen has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle people into the US through Thailand.

    Indian Gets Prison Sentence In Conspiracy To Smuggle People To US

    Wrong Placing Of Height Barrier Blamed For Dubai Bus Crash That Killed 12 Indians

    The lawyers of the Omani bus driver, who rammed the vehicle into a height barrier in Dubai that killed 17 people, including 12 Indians, have told a UAE court that the restriction bar violated the GCC safety guidelines.

    Wrong Placing Of Height Barrier Blamed For Dubai Bus Crash That Killed 12 Indians

    Al-Qaeda Chief Calls for 'Unrelenting Blows' on Army in Kashmir, Chides Pakistan for 'Double Game'

    Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed that the 'fight in Kashmir' is not a separate conflict but instead is part of the worldwide Muslim community's 'jihad against a vast array of forces'.

    Al-Qaeda Chief Calls for 'Unrelenting Blows' on Army in Kashmir, Chides Pakistan for 'Double Game'