SOURCE: AFI
On April 27, 2025, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK894, en route from Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur, was forced to take a significantly longer route, extending its flight time from the usual 5 hours and 24 minutes to 8 hours and 16 minutes. The detour, captured in Flightradar24 data shared on X by user @flightradar24, reflects the impact of escalating India-Pakistan tensions following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on April 24, 2025, and the Pahalgam terror attack days earlier.
Flight PK894, typically a direct route from Islamabad’s Allama Iqbal International Airport to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, covers a distance of approximately 4,500 km, with an average flight time of 5 hours and 24 minutes on a Boeing 777-200ER, cruising at 900 km/h. The standard path crosses northern India, the Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea, minimizing fuel consumption and transit time for the 314 passengers the aircraft can carry.
However, on April 27, 2025, at 17:16 UTC, Flightradar24 data showed PK894 taking a circuitous route. Departing Islamabad, the flight veered northeast, skirting India’s borders by flying over parts of China, Myanmar, and Thailand, before descending into Kuala Lumpur from the east. This detour added roughly 1,800 km to the journey, increasing the flight time to 8 hours and 16 minutes—a 53% increase. The extended route likely consumed an additional 15,000 kg of jet fuel (assuming 8,500 kg/hour for a 777-200ER), costing PIA an extra $12,000 at $0.80 per kg, exacerbating the airline’s financial strain amid Pakistan’s economic challenges (2024 debt: $270 billion, inflation: 12%).
The rerouting of PK894 stems from India’s decision to restrict Pakistani civilian overflights following the suspension of the IWT on April 24, 2025. The move, a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, signaled India’s intent to leverage its geographical advantage over Pakistan, whose eastern routes to Southeast Asia and beyond traverse Indian airspace. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), reportedly issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on April 25, 2025, barring Pakistani carriers from using its airspace, a move mirrored by Pakistan for Indian flights.
PIA’s official statement on April 28, 2025, acknowledged the rerouting, citing “temporary airspace restrictions” and assuring passengers of efforts to minimize disruptions. However, with no immediate resolution to India-Pakistan tensions, such detours may become the norm, as seen in 2019 when PIA incurred $50 million in losses due to airspace closures.
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