IndiGo cancels flights to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan amid India-Pakistan tension; Air India to take alternate routes

Amid the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the country's largest airline IndiGo has cancelled flights to two countries, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, until May 7, 2025, due to the closure of Pakistan’s airspace. These two locations are outside the operational range of IndiGo’s current fleet. Following the closure of the airspace, around 50 international routes operated by IndiGo will require longer sectors, the company has said. Another major airline, Air India, has also said its flights to or from North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East will take an "alternative extended" route.

“Due to the closure of Pakistan’s airspace, approximately 50 international routes operated by IndiGo will require longer sectors and hence may be subject to some slight schedule adjustments. With the same restrictions and limited rerouting options, unfortunately, Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) are outside the operational range of IndiGo’s current fleet," an IndiGo spokesperson says.

The flights to Almaty have been cancelled from April 27 until at least May 7 and to Tashkent from April 28 until May 7, 2025. "We expect our customers’ understanding as these are reasons beyond our control. We suggest our customers check the latest flight status on our website www.goindigo.com. Rescheduling and cancellations can be managed through our website," the company added.

An Air India statement said: "Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and the Middle East will take an alternative extended route. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure that is outside our control. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains a top priority."

As Pakistan responds to India’s diplomatic measures by completely closing its airspace, international flights from Delhi and other northern Indian cities are expected to face delays and higher fares. Reports say flights to Europe and North America—including the U.S. and Canada—could be extended by up to two to three hours due to rerouting.

In response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, India on April 23 took a series of strong diplomatic and strategic measures. These included closing the Wagah-Attari border, suspending the Indus Water Treaty, and declaring all Pakistani nationals, including diplomats and defence personnel, persona non grata.

Reacting sharply, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) announced reciprocal steps on Thursday. The country closed its airspace to Indian airlines and suspended all bilateral trade. Notably, bilateral trade between the two nations had seen a sharp rebound in 2024, hitting a five-year high of $1.2 billion, a 127% increase from 2023. The Pakistan NSC strongly opposed India’s move to place the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, warning that any attempt to stop or divert water flows would be treated as an act of war. The committee also threatened to nullify other bilateral agreements, including the 1972 Shimla Accord, and rejected any third-party mediation on Jammu and Kashmir.