Top Indian carriers including government-run Air India have sought the Civil and Defence ministries’ nod to avoid flying over Pakistani airspace.
Airlines such as SpiceJet, Indigo, Jet Airways and Air India that operate flight to Gulf countries have requested the government to allow them take off the flight to Gulf from western India (mainly Ahmedabad) over the Arabian Sea.
It said that several airlines, operating their aircrafts in the Pakistan’s airspace, fear security threat due to the worsening India-Pakistan ties.
SpiceJet in a presentation has requested the Government to give direct access for its flights “from Ahmedabad to the Gulf under the flexi-use of airspace”. It refers to the airspace reserved for air force and the navy.
However, the defense ministry is yet to take any call on this.
SpiceJet’s request is also backed by two reasons –it will help save the company Rs. 1 lakh on such trips while it will also help cut down carbon emissions.
“With this not only airlines save fuel and route navigation flight charges (RNFC), our country can generate more RNFC. This will also enable reduction in carbon emissions which is part of global environmental saving,” SpiceJet said in the presentation. The budget airline would save rupees one lakh if it is allowed direct oceanic route instead of flying over Pakistan for its Ahmedabad-Dubai flight.
