• Airlines are cancelling and rerouting flights due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
• Over 50 flights to and from Pakistan have been canceled as a result of military strikes.
• Major airlines including Singapore Airlines, Air India, and Malaysian Airlines have altered their routes to avoid conflict zones.
• Operational disruptions are affecting air travel across South Asia and Europe.
• The conflict's impact raises concerns over flight safety and costs in the aviation industry.

As tensions escalate between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, airlines are experiencing significant operational disruptions. Following India's military strikes in Pakistan, many airlines have begun rerouting flights to avoid the conflict zone, leading to over 52 flight cancellations to and from Pakistan, according to FlightRadar24, a flight tracking service. Several airports in northern India have also been shut down, adding to the chaos in air travel across the region, according to thejakartapost and Al Jazeera.

The situation has forced several airlines to adapt quickly; for instance, Malaysian Airlines announced it would suspend flights to Amritsar and reroute two long-haul flights to London and Paris via Doha. Similarly, Singapore Airlines confirmed it had stopped using Pakistani airspace and adjusted its flight schedules accordingly. One spokesperson noted that such alterations may slightly extend flight times, highlighting the impact on customer travel, reports Indiatimes and TRT Global.

In addition to these adjustments, airlines such as Korean Air, Thai Airways, and Taiwan's EVA Air are also rerouting flights to avoid the affected airspace. Korean Air has opted for a southern route through Myanmar and Bangladesh instead of the previous passage over Pakistan. EVA Air has announced it will redirect multiple flights to European destinations, ensuring all operations adhere to safety guidelines as the conflict unfolds, according to Channel News Asia, and Reuters.

Ongoing conflict has also prompted significant operational changes for Indian carriers. For instance, IndiGo has canceled numerous flights due to the airspace closure, with implications for both domestic and international travel. Air India is now requiring stopovers for previously non-stop flights, resulting in increased duration and fuel costs. Local aviation authorities are in discussion to find feasible routes over challenging terrains, signaling ongoing challenges for airlines in both India and Pakistan as they navigate these unprecedented conditions, highlighted by Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.

As the situation develops, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines has expressed concerns regarding safety and operational challenges due to the impacts of GPS spoofing in conflict zones. These disruptions not only pose operational headaches but also significant financial implications for airlines, given the anticipated escalation in operational costs during the ongoing crisis. This situation underlines the sensitive interplay between geopolitical tensions and global aviation operations, as illustrated by reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera.