Air India expecting lengthier Canada-India flights due to airspace ban
Canadians travelling to and from India via Air India may experience a longer journey than expected.
Air India says some flights between India and North America, the U.K., Europe, and the Middle East will have to take an “alternative extended route” due to an airspace ban.
On April 24, the office of Pakistan’s prime minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, issued a press release stating, “Pakistan’s airspace will be closed with immediate effect for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines.”
The two neighbouring countries have a historically tense relationship that was exacerbated by a recent terror attack.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an alternative extended route. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused…
— Air India (@airindia) April 24, 2025
“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure that is outside our control,” reads the airline’s statement. “We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority.”
In an email to Daily Hive, a representative of the carrier stated that the airline operates regular flights out of Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. Air India’s site also states that the airline offers connecting flights to other Canadian cities such as Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton, Montreal, and Halifax.
FlightAware
On average, the travel time for direct flights between Toronto and Delhi is approximately 14 hours. However, according to data on FlightAware, an Air India flight that departed from Toronto on Thursday, April 24, was rerouted and flew over the Middle East instead of its usual, more direct route over Pakistan. The flight lasted 18 hours and 22 minutes.
Air India is urging its customers to check if their flights have been affected by this disruption by contacting its call centre or visiting its website.
The airspace ban is just one of several retaliatory measures that Pakistan announced against India after at least 26 people were killed in a Tuesday attack by suspected rebels in Indian-held Kashmir, reports Pakistani daily Dawn. A group known as The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The day after the attacks, India shut down the Attari border check post, and Pakistani citizens in India under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) were given 48 hours to leave the country, while others could return by May 1.
In response, Pakistan has suspended all trade and cross-border travel between the two countries. Similarly, Indian nationals in Pakistan under the SVES were also given 48 hours to return to India.
Daily Hive reached out to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The airport stated that it was not aware of any significant delays resulting from Pakistan’s airspace ban.
In an email, a representative for Vancouver International Airport stated, “While some Air India flights to and from YVR may require an alternative extended route, we do not anticipate any significant delays or disruptions at this time.”