Several Asian airlines have rerouted or cancelled flights to and from Europe due to escalating military conflict between India and Pakistan, prompting widespread disruption in South Asia’s airspace.
India attacked deadly missile attacks on Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir causing the martyrdom of at least 26 people including children and women.
Around 46 people were also wounded in Indian attacks that targeted civilian areas and mosques.
Pakistan declared the attack “an act of war,” while security sources reported that five Indian fighter jets were shot down in the Pakistani retaliation.
As a result of the skirmish, more than 50 flights to or from Pakistan were cancelled by Wednesday morning, according to FlightRadar24, and over two dozen international flights were diverted.
Airspace over Pakistan and northwest India was largely devoid of civilian aircraft, with both countries halting domestic operations at multiple airports.
However, Pakistan has now restored flight operations over Lahore and Karachi after the airspace was suspended due to operational restrictions, according to a new NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
Indian carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air were heavily affected, with IndiGo shares falling 1.8%.
Airlines across Asia are adjusting operations for safety.
Taiwan's EVA Air rerouted flights to Europe and reported diversions, including a Vienna-bound flight returning and a Taipei-Milan flight refueling in Vienna. Shares fell 1.7%.
China Airlines faced similar disruptions, with flights to London, Frankfurt, and Rome either canceled or rerouted with refueling stops in Bangkok or Prague.
Its shares dropped more than 2%.
Korean Air and Thai Airways began rerouting flights away from Pakistani airspace, opting for paths over Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India. Vietnam Airlines also reported adjustments.
Lufthansa’s Delhi-Frankfurt flight took a longer route over the Arabian Sea.
Routes have grown more complex since Taiwanese airlines were banned from Russian airspace due to sanctions.
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines warned of rising risks, including GPS spoofing — a technique that can mislead aircraft navigation systems — in conflict zones.
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