Pakistan Opens Air Space Closed Since Balakot Strike, Brings Huge Relief For Indian Airlines
After a gap of 5 months, the Pakistan air space is now open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (air traffic service) routes. This brings huge relief for Indian airlines who have suffered huge losses amounting to Rs 550 crore till the middle of June due to this airspace closure.
New Delhi, July 15: After a gap of 5 months, the Pakistan air space is now open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (air traffic service) routes. In a notice to airmen issued around 12.41 am Indian time, the Civil Aviation Authority said, “With immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on published ATS (air traffic service) routes. Indian airline operators will start using normal routes through Pakistan airspace soon,” unidentified officials told PTI.
According to the latest ANI update in this matter, a Government source said, "Consequent to Pak issuing NOTAM to lift airspace restrictions, relevant authorities have informed that India has also issued revised NOTAM immediately thereafter. With this, normal air traffic operations have resumed through all flight Information Regions b/w India and Pakistan."
This brings a huge respite for people flying towards the West of India. More than 800 flights use the Indian and Pakistani air space to ferry passengers from South Asia, South East Asia to Europe and North America. How the Closure of India and Pakistan's Air Space Impacted Flights Around the World.
Check the tweet from ANI:
Pakistan had fully closed its airspace on February 26 after the fighter jets of the Indian Air Force fighter struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot following the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir killing CRPF personnel.
According to reports, the air space closure had led to a huge loss for carriers. The Indian carriers have lost about Rs 550 crore till the middle of June due to this airspace closure.
Earlier last month, Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha showed the data that SpiceJet had lost Rs 30.73 crore till June 20, IndiGo had lost Rs 25.1 crore till May 31, and GoAir Rs 2.1 crore till June 20, while Air India incurred a loss of Rs 491 crore as of July 2. The airlines had to re-route various international flights due to the closure of the Pakistan airspace.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2019 08:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).