Airspace Closures Drive 100% Surge In US-India Flight Fares

NEW DELHI- Airfares on several major routes between North America and India have surged sharply after the closure of key airspace corridors disrupted long-haul flight operations, forcing airlines to reroute flights and reduce capacity.

The disruption follows the escalation of conflict across parts of the Middle East, a region that normally acts as one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.

Several airlines have suspended operations, grounded aircraft and cancelled routes, significantly affecting global flight networks.

The Middle East traditionally connects major continents including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, making it a crucial hub for both passenger and cargo movement.

However, flight-tracking platforms such as Flightradar24 now show a striking change in the region’s skies, with large areas that were once filled with aircraft appearing unusually empty.

As airlines reroute flights to avoid restricted airspace, ticket prices on key routes linking cities in North America and India have jumped sharply.

Data from Google Flights shows steep increases in fares for routes connecting cities such as New York, Chicago and Newark with Mumbai and New Delhi.

One of the most dramatic price hikes has hit the New York to New Delhi route, where spot airfares currently are around $2,456. Under normal conditions, last-minute tickets for this journey typically cost around $1,092. Similarly, travel between Newark and Mumbai has become significantly more expensive; Google Flights data shows spot fares now sitting between $1,179 and $3,166.

The steepest increases, however, are seen on flights originating from Chicago. Spot fares between Chicago and Mumbai have skyrocketed by more than 150 percent. (IANS)2