Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, May 6: As Pakistan’s airspace closure since April 24 continues to reroute over 130 westbound international flights daily, Mumbai and Ahmedabad air traffic controls (ATC) have emerged as critical navigational hubs, expertly managing diverted air traffic through the L639 and L301 corridors over the Arabian Sea.

Flights originating from Delhi, Amritsar, Kolkata, Lucknow, and other northern and eastern airports, which would typically overfly Pakistan to enter Iranian airspace, are now being redirected south. Once under the guidance of Ahmedabad ATC, the flights are handed over to Mumbai en route controllers and slotted onto L639 and L301—two of the busiest air corridors in the region.

“Each time Pakistan shuts its airspace, Mumbai ATC bears the brunt,” said a retired air traffic controller. “The 2019 closure after the Balakot strikes rerouted around 500 flights overnight. This time, it’s about 130 additional flights daily—manageable but still intense.”

The traffic surge has led to peak-hour congestion between 9:30 pm–11:00 pm and 2:00 am–3:30 am. To accommodate the volume, Mumbai ATC had, in a pioneering move earlier this year, implemented reduced horizontal separation on L639 and L301—from 50 nautical miles (nm) to 20 nm—making them the first such routes in the Asia Pacific to support denser traffic efficiently.

Despite this upgrade, the impact has trickled to other domestic routes. Flights bound for Shamshabad, Pune, Nagpur, and Kolkata are being rerouted further south, adding indirect stress to the system.

Rerouted flights mean longer distances, increased fuel consumption, and higher emissions. For example, a Delhi-New York Boeing 777 typically burns 106,500 kg of fuel and emits around 336 metric tons of CO2 when flying over Pakistan. The rerouted alternative via L639, including a refueling stop in Vienna, increases fuel burn to approximately 125,500 kg—pumping out around 396 metric tons of CO2. This not only impacts airline costs but also intensifies their environmental footprint.

Pakistan’s airspace closure—triggered this time by heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack—is not new. Historical precedents include the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the 1999 Kargil conflict, the 2001-02 Parliament attack standoff, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes fallout. Each time, Indian FIRs, particularly Mumbai, have had to scramble resources to maintain uninterrupted air traffic to the West.

Mumbai FIR, which covers western India and vast swathes of the Arabian Sea, along with Ahmedabad ATC, remains at the heart of this logistical juggernaut—ensuring that despite geopolitical disruptions, the skies remain safe, structured, and flowing.