Let us skip Pakistani airspace, airlines request Centre

[Brickwall]

Indian carriers are increasingly seeking the government's nod to fly to the Gulf from western India (mainly Ahmedabad) over the Arabian Sea to avoid the circuitous route over Pakistan. Security fears due to deteriorating India-Pakistan ties as well as economic factors are driving the requests.

Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet operate flights to Gulf over Pakistan. "In the past few days, India has asked some non-scheduled aircraft flying from Pakistan to return and Pakistan may also retaliate. This is one fear that is behind the demand and the other is pure and simple cost factors," said an airline official.

SpiceJet has sought direct access for its flights from Ahmedabad to the Gulf under the " flexi-use of airspace ", which allows commercial aircraft to use the airspace reserved for air force and the navy. TOI has accessed a presentation made by SpiceJet to both defence and civil aviation ministries in this regard.

"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.

Defence authorities are yet to give clearance to the direct access as it involves flying over some sensitive areas. An aviation ministry source said: "We are getting lot of requests from airlines for direct point-to-point routes and are focusing on flexi use of airspace for that. There has been significant progress on that and a lot is still to be done."

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...lines-request-Centre/articleshow/53819239.cms

 

[Mrc]

Wish granted...

 

[[Bregs]]

This step should have been taken immediately after Kandahar hijack case

 

[Blue Marlin]

what a weird proposal, why, diverting around the arabian sea or through china and central asia will use up more fuel making it more expensive to the customer.

 

[cloud4000]

I see no need to do this at the time. Yes, things are tense, but we are not at war. The last time India banned all Pakistan aircraft from its air space was after the attack on Indian Parliament. Yes, have contingency plans, but don't jump the gone, it will just cost you more in the end.

 

[Tshering22]

This step should have been taken immediately after Kandahar hijack case

It did; but it was temporary.

The ban was revoked a year later.

It is an off-and-on thing when it comes to the airspace clearances.

Economically it would make sense to fly through Gujarat, but due to defence airspace and ground based navigation systems, it is not possible to make a straight line. Hopefully with GAGAN fully implemented this could be sorted out.

Also FUA needs to be implemented across the country. Only southern part of the country has managed to do so successfully.

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

Please do, it'll reduce the pollution from our skies.

Those same Airlines will be crying back after they check their "fuel bills".

 

[omegalamba7XL9]

Wish granted...

Good that will cut down pollution over pakistani skies. Let them take a detour.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

Majority of Indian air traffic is towards west including ME, Europe and America. For Pakistan, there is no substantial eastwards travel. So yeah, Pakistan needs to grant them their wish. They will soon be coming begging to open Airspace.

 

[Humble Analyst]

what a weird proposal, why, diverting around the arabian sea or through china and central asia will use up more fuel making it more expensive to the customer.

War is coming this the message between the lines, India is preparing for unannounced bigger scale quick attacks. A possibility.

 

[Thorough Pro]

Bullshit, one only needs permission to flyover a country not for not flying over a country, go ahead change your route.

Indian carriers are increasingly seeking the government's nod to fly to the Gulf from western India (mainly Ahmedabad) over the Arabian Sea to avoid the circuitous route over Pakistan. Security fears due to deteriorating India-Pakistan ties as well as economic factors are driving the requests.

Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet operate flights to Gulf over Pakistan. "In the past few days, India has asked some non-scheduled aircraft flying from Pakistan to return and Pakistan may also retaliate. This is one fear that is behind the demand and the other is pure and simple cost factors," said an airline official.

SpiceJet has sought direct access for its flights from Ahmedabad to the Gulf under the " flexi-use of airspace ", which allows commercial aircraft to use the airspace reserved for air force and the navy. TOI has accessed a presentation made by SpiceJet to both defence and civil aviation ministries in this regard.

"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.

Defence authorities are yet to give clearance to the direct access as it involves flying over some sensitive areas. An aviation ministry source said: "We are getting lot of requests from airlines for direct point-to-point routes and are focusing on flexi use of airspace for that. There has been significant progress on that and a lot is still to be done."

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...lines-request-Centre/articleshow/53819239.cms