Air India Pilots Highlight Pyramids as War Forces Drastic Flight Reroutes
On clear days over Egypt, fatigued Air India pilots operating flights to and from the West now often announce to passengers, "Those seated on the right or left can see the pyramids of Giza." This unusual sightseeing note underscores the excruciatingly longer routes imposed since February 28, due to the US-Israel war against Iran, which has closed key airspaces and reshaped global aviation corridors.
Extended Flight Paths and Operational Challenges
Since the conflict began, flights heading west from India—except to North America's west coast—must overfly the Arabian Sea while avoiding Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers and Iranian airspace for all airlines. They then turn right from Oman, routing via Muscat, Saudi Arabia, or beyond through Cairo to reach Europe, the UK, and North America, with the same path used on return trips. The war-zone corridor covering Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel now appears deserted, as most aircraft fly below it, while even usable routes in regions like parts of Saudi Arabia are affected.
The impact is stark: Air India's Delhi-London non-stop flight time has surged by 50%, from about eight hours to over 12 hours now. Its Mumbai-New York route, previously a 13-14 hour non-stop, has become a one-stop via Rome, with travel time nearing 21 hours. IndiGo, using wide-body aircraft from Norway's Norse Atlantic airline, bypasses West Asia entirely per EU advice, flying over the Arabian Sea to Africa before turning north to Cairo and beyond.
Shrinking Networks and Soaring Costs for Indian Airlines
Since February 28, the Iran war has led to a sharp rise in airfares and a drastic reduction in travel options, with major carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad largely out of the picture. Indian operators have seen their networks shrink dramatically:
- Daily flights between India and the West have fallen from 400-500 to a handful, with airports in Bahrain and Doha closed and UAE slots sporadic.
- IndiGo's 300 daily international flights included half to the West, now reduced to a few.
- Air India Express dropped from 110 daily West Asia connections to 50 ad hoc ones.
- Air India's scheduled weekly West Asia flights fell from 254 to 30-40, with similar reductions for Akasa and SpiceJet.
Operating costs have escalated due to higher aviation turbine fuel prices, currently around $817 per kilo litre in Delhi and Mumbai, up from $779 last month. The rupee's depreciation to Rs 93.30 against the dollar has increased dollar-denominated expenses like lease rentals and maintenance. Longer routes mean more fuel burn: a Boeing 787 burns about five tonnes per hour, and a B777 about 7.5 tonnes, adding Rs 80,000 per hour in extra fuel costs. Airlines now upload extra fuel from India to ensure aircraft can return if fighting escalates, but heavier planes increase fuel consumption further.
A senior official noted, "At current operating costs, it does not make sense to operate West flights. We are doing so as a commitment to keep flyers connected. Flying now defies economics." Pleas for government relief on ATF excise or VAT have been futile, with fuel surcharges of Rs 199 to $200 imposed by AI Group, IndiGo, and Akasa. Insurance costs have soared by Rs 30-40 lakh for narrow-body return trips and up to Rs 1 crore for wide-body trips.
Pilot Fatigue and Regulatory Adjustments
With aircraft flying much longer routes, Air India secured an exemption from flight duty time limitation rules from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, allowing pilots to fly up to 11.5 hours without a third pilot for rest. Pilots have been on extended routes since last April during Operation Sindoor, but the Iran war has stretched them further.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots are particularly affected due to limited seat recline for safety. One pilot expressed, "We are pushing our body to the limit of human endurance, flying close to a war zone with GPS jamming from Pakistan to Turkey." Air India has converted 30 B777 pilots to Dreamliners, expected to start in two months, and emphasizes that exemptions are temporary and based on safety assessments.
Passenger Turbulence and Capacity Additions
Passengers face skyrocketing fares, with one Indian student paying Rs 1.8 lakh for a one-way ticket from Delhi to Ireland in mid-February. Many hold bookings on Gulf carriers for summer, and if flights aren't restored soon, fares on other options could surge further from early April.
To fill the vacuum left by Gulf carriers, Air India is adding extra flights to the West. Lufthansa deployed its 500-seater Airbus A380 on Munich-Delhi and Munich-Mumbai routes, increasing frequency between Chennai and Frankfurt. SWISS will operate a second daily service between Delhi and Zurich in March, and Lufthansa is considering more group airlines for India routes.
Broader Economic Impact on India
Beyond aviation, the war is hurting various sectors:
- Medical devices: Rising costs for medical-grade plastic, freight, and gas threaten supplies like syringes, potentially leading to production cuts and price hikes.
- Pharma: Propane shortages have caused shutdowns at drug plants, affecting output of essential medicines.
- Fertilisers: LNG disruption impacts ammonia and urea production ahead of the kharif season.
- Restaurants/catering: Commercial LPG shortages are increasing costs and disrupting operations.
- Air conditioners: LPG and petrochemical shortages are hurting production before summer.
- Automobiles: Costlier components and gas shortages are straining auto production.
This multifaceted crisis highlights how geopolitical conflicts can ripple through global industries, from aviation to essential goods, underscoring the need for adaptive strategies in turbulent times.
