The aviation minister of Pakistan says his country suffered losses of more than 8 billion rupees ($50 million) because of airspace restrictions put in place earlier this year amid violent clashes with neighboring India.
“Over 8 billion rupees worth of losses have been suffered by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority,” Ghulam Sarwar Khan told a news conference in Karachi on July 18.
“We don’t have exact figures of losses of their [Indian] civil aviation authorities, but it's more than ours,” Khan added.
India's aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, recently told parliament that Indian air firms -- Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and GoAir -- lost almost $80 million because of the the closure of Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan lies in an important aviation corridor. In February, it closed its airspace to international aviation after a standoff with India in the wake of an attack by a Pakistan-based militant group on a police convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 paramilitary police.
Both countries carried out aerial attacks over each other's territory during the standoff and warplanes fought a brief dogfight over the skies of the disputed Kashmir region.
The closure of the airspace forced international airlines to reroute around Pakistan, costing them time and money.
Partial operations at Pakistani airports resumed once tensions eased, but restrictions continued to affect many international carriers using Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan’s aviation authority on July 16 announced the country’s airspace had been completely reopened to civil aviation.
India’s ministry of civil aviation said there were now no restrictions on airspace in either country.
“Flights have started using the closed air routes, bringing a significant relief for airlines,” it said.
Related
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editor's Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
What's Behind The Deadly Surge Of Violence In Pakistan's Balochistan?
2Facebook Restrictions The 'Last Nail In The Coffin' For Free Speech In Afghanistan
3Iran's Afghan Community Worried About Prospect Of War With Israel
4Could Taliban Canal Spark Water War In Central Asia?
5RFE/RL Freelance Journalist Attacked By Armed Men In Islamabad
6Chinese Investigators Arrive In Pakistan To Probe Suicide Attack That Killed 5 Of Its Nationals
7Flash Flooding Kills At Least 33 People In Kabul, Other Afghan Regions
8Taliban Pulls 2 TV Channels For 'Violating Islamic Values'
9Little Cheer As Afghans Mark Eid Under Taliban Rule
1070 killed As Afghanistan Hit By Heavy Rains
Subscribe