Swiss suspends flights over Pakistani airspace

Post on: 02.05.2025

Due to the growing geopolitical tension between India and Pakistan, particularly in the Kashmir region, Swiss International Air Lines has announced the temporary suspension of overflight of Pakistani airspace. The decision, valid until further notice, also involves the other companies of the Lufthansa group and concerns in particular connections to and from Asia, including New Delhi, Singapore and Bangkok.

An escalation that began with an attack in Kashmir

The measure comes a few days after a serious attack that took place on April 22, 2025 in Pahalgam, a tourist resort in Indian Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. The incident sparked a wave of mutual accusations between the two countries: the Indian government accused Pakistan of complicity in the attack, a charge strongly rejected by Islamabad.

As a response to rising tensions, on April 24 Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights. This move was echoed by India, which banned Pakistani flights from overflying its territory from April 30 until May 23. This exchange of bans has in fact made it increasingly difficult to manage civilian flights in the area.

Swiss | Consequences for passengers

The spokeswoman for the Swiss company, Meike Fuhlrott, said that Swiss is closely monitoring developments in the situation and that passenger safety remains the top priority. Changes to flight plans inevitably result in longer journey times, especially for connections to New Delhi, but also for other Asian destinations.

Swiss has ensured that passengers who miss any connections due to delays will be able to take another flight free of charge. In addition, all changes are made with the aim of ensuring maximum safety, avoiding overflights of areas considered at risk.

Economic and strategic impacts for airlines

The closure of the airspace between India and Pakistan does not only involve Swiss, but all European and Asian airlines that operate intercontinental flights. The impossibility of crossing the Pakistani air corridor forces airlines to divert routes, increasing flight times and, above all, operating costs.

According to estimates reported by Al Jazeera, Air India could lose up to 591 million dollars in a year if the situation does not subside. Alternative routes require higher fuel consumption and more complex organization to ensure connections, airport slots and crew management.

A crisis with international implications

The area of Kashmir has been one of the most disputed territories internationally for decades. The recent escalation brings attention back to a conflict that has never been fully resolved, with the risk that the consequences will extend far beyond regional borders. Air restrictions represent only the tip of the iceberg of a deeper crisis, which touches on issues related to security, tourism and diplomatic relations between nuclear powers.

And now?

At the moment there are no indications on a possible date for lifting restrictions. Swiss invites passengers to check the status of flights via official channels, such as the company's website and mobile app. The situation remains fluid and could evolve rapidly, also based on diplomatic developments between India and Pakistan.

For those traveling to Asia, it is advisable to anticipate longer transit times and stay up to date. SwissMAG will continue to monitor the situation closely in order to provide timely updates to its readers.