Airlines seek government help as Iran war disrupts travel
India's biggest airlines, IndiGo and Air India, are asking the government for tax relief on aviation fuel and lower airport charges.
After U.S.-Israel strikes in Iran closed key airspace on February 28, both carriers have faced mass flight cancelations and rising costs just to keep flying.
Air India estimates $600 million annual loss
With the Pakistan airspace ban still in place, airlines are forced onto longer, more expensive routes, like IndiGo detouring through Africa to reach the UK or Air India stopping in Rome.
The result? A whopping 64% of scheduled flights by the two largest Indian carriers to Europe, North America, and the Middle East were not operated recently, hitting travelers hard.
Air India has forecast an annual hit of about $600 million associated with the Pakistan airspace ban.
Experts warn that if things don't change soon, flying could get even pricier—and less reliable—for everyone.