India-Pakistan Tensions Redirect Dhaka Flights to Longer, More Expensive Routes

The ongoing India-Pakistan conflict has disrupted international air travel, compelling airlines worldwide—including those based in Dhaka—to adopt longer and more costly routes across South Asia. In response, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other Dhaka-based carriers have been forced to adjust flight paths to major destinations such as London, Rome, Istanbul, and Toronto, leading to delays of up to two hours, along with higher fuel consumption and increased operational challenges. These changes follow the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft, which was reciprocated by India, severing a key air corridor over the subcontinent.

As a result, airlines now navigate fragmented airspace, often taking longer detours to avoid restricted zones. Dhaka, a hub for connecting passengers to the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, has felt the impact more than most.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) sees daily flights from both legacy and budget carriers, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, FlyDubai, Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways, and Air India. All have had to revise their flight paths amid the ongoing turbulence.

Biman’s Flight Operations Directorate and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the Dhaka–London route, previously a 10-hour journey via Pakistan and Afghanistan, now takes up to 12 hours. Similar delays are affecting flights to Rome and Toronto, burdening airlines with additional fuel costs and complicating schedules.

International carriers like Turkish Airlines have rerouted their Istanbul–Dhaka services, while Qatar Airways and Emirates have had to adjust their multiple daily flights between Dhaka and Europe. Jazeera Airways, using Kuwait as a hub for onward connections, has also changed its westbound routes. Singapore Airlines, traditionally flying southeast from Dhaka, is closely monitoring the airspace congestion as logistical challenges increase.

Aviation analysts note that South Asia’s dense and interconnected airspace leaves little room for disruption, and the current standoff has fragmented a crucial transit corridor between the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Experts warn that without a diplomatic resolution, these rerouted paths could become permanent, further complicating air travel between key regional hubs like Dhaka, Doha, Delhi, and Dubai, and underscoring how regional tensions can quickly impact global mobility.