Srinagar-Sharjah Flights: After Pakistan's Denial, India Takes Diplomatic Route To Use Its Airspace

Pakistan denied usage of its airspace Srinagar-Sharjah flight, forcing it to take a longer route and fly over Gujarat to reach its destination in the UAE.

(Image: Twitter/@GoFirstairways)

New Delhi: A day after Pakistan refused the use of its airspace to private airline Go First’s Srinagar-Sharjah flight, India on Thursday approached Islamabad through diplomatic channels to allow the aircraft in mind the larger interest of common people who have booked the tickets on this service. 

The airline's Srinagar-Sharjah-Srinagar service is the first service between Jammu and Kashmir and the UAE after 11 years.

On Tuesday, Pakistan denied usage of its airspace Srinagar-Sharjah flight, forcing it to take a longer route and fly over Gujarat to reach its destination in the UAE.

The denial by the neighbouring country came out of the blue on Tuesday as the flights were operational with Srinagar-Sharjah-Srinagar service going through Pakistan airspace.

Go First, previously known as GoAir, had started direct flights between Srinagar and Sharjah from October 23 and the service was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the Valley last month.

As the longer air route will require higher fuel consumption, which may push the airline to increase the ticket prices or turn this non-stop service to one-stop service, India has requested Pakistan through diplomatic channels to grant the overflight clearance to this flight, news agency PTI reported.

Officials have also claimed that Pakistan government is yet to give any specific reason for refusing permission to the flight. 

According to the officials, the flight, which operates four times a week, did not face any issue when it used Pakistan airspace between October 23 and October 31.

"Very unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that @GoFirstairways being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn't to be," former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted.

It should also be kept in mind that the Pakistan government has allowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special flight to Italy to use its airspace on Friday to attend the G20 summit. 

Even his return flight from Italy was also allowed to use the Pakistan airspace on Wednesday.

(With inputs from PTI)