Airfares surge on U.S.–India routes after Middle East airspace closures disrupt global flights
NEW DELHI — Airfares on several major routes between the United States and India have surged sharply after the closure of key Middle Eastern airspace corridors disrupted long-haul flight operations, forcing airlines to reroute aircraft and reduce available capacity.
The disruption follows an escalation of conflict across parts of the Middle East, a region that typically serves as one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
Several airlines have suspended operations, grounded aircraft, or canceled routes, significantly affecting global flight networks and long-haul travel between continents.
The Middle East traditionally connects major regions including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, making it a critical hub for both passenger and cargo transportation. With the closure of some airspace corridors, airlines have been forced to take longer routes or avoid the region entirely.
Flight-tracking platforms such as Flightradar24 show a dramatic shift in regional air traffic patterns, with large sections of airspace that are normally crowded with aircraft now appearing largely empty.
As airlines reroute flights to avoid restricted airspace, ticket prices on key routes linking cities in North America and India have risen sharply.
Data from Google Flights shows steep increases in fares on routes connecting cities such as New York, Chicago, and Newark with major Indian destinations including Mumbai and New Delhi.
One of the biggest increases has been recorded on the New York–New Delhi route. Current spot fares from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to New Delhi range from about Rs 1.34 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh.
Under normal conditions, last-minute tickets on the route typically cost between Rs 45,000 and Rs 1 lakh, indicating a price increase of more than 100 percent.
Ticket prices have also surged on flights between Newark and Mumbai. According to Google Flights data, spot fares currently range from Rs 1.08 lakh to Rs 2.9 lakh, compared with usual last-minute prices of about Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000.
Flights departing from Chicago have experienced some of the steepest increases. Spot fares between Chicago and Mumbai have climbed by more than 150 percent, with current prices ranging from Rs 1.9 lakh to Rs 2.8 lakh. Normally, tickets on this route cost between Rs 45,000 and Rs 75,000.
Meanwhile, fares for flights between Chicago and New Delhi have increased to between Rs 1.37 lakh and Rs 1.83 lakh, compared with the typical range of Rs 45,000 to Rs 70,000, representing another increase of more than 100 percent. (Source: IANS)
