Key Takeaways
• Air India rerouted North America flights over Mongolia after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in April 2025.
• Key flights AI186 (Vancouver–Delhi) and AI174 (San Francisco–Delhi) now use Mongolian airspace, increasing flight times and operational costs.
• Longer routes require technical stops in Kolkata, affect crew schedules, restrict payload, and may lead to higher ticket prices.
Air India, India’s leading international airline, has changed its flight routes to the US and Canada. The change became necessary after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in late April 2025. Because of this closure, Air India can no longer fly directly over Pakistan for many of its long flights between India and North America. Instead, Air India has started to fly over Mongolian airspace as a practical solution. This move is meant to keep services running smoothly, even though there are new challenges for the airline, passengers, and wider aviation operations.
Why Did Air India Change Routes to the US and Canada?
The trigger for this new routing was political tension between India and Pakistan. Because of these issues, Pakistan shut its skies to Indian airlines. For many years, flying over Pakistan was the fastest and most cost-effective way for Air India to reach North America. Once that option disappeared, the airline had to act fast to find a different way to connect India with cities like San Francisco and Vancouver.
Flying further north, over Mongolian airspace, gives Air India a new path to reach the US and Canada. While it is not as direct as the old route, it is the most reasonable choice given the current restrictions. Air India’s decision is important because it lets the airline keep some of its key long-haul routes open while working around the political obstacles.
Which Flights Are Using Mongolian Airspace?
Not every Air India flight to North America is using the Mongolian route. The main flights affected are:
- AI186 between Vancouver and Delhi
- AI174 between San Francisco and Delhi
Flight tracking websites and several news reports have confirmed that these specific flights have been using the new corridor over Mongolia for several days in May 2025. Before Pakistan closed its airspace, both of these routes used a more direct southern path. But with that option blocked, the Mongolian route, even though it is longer, has become the best available option.
This route change impacts schedules and how Air India plans its overall North American connections. Of the 71 Air India flights each week between India and North America (with 54 starting from Delhi), only select flights—mainly those linking Delhi with San Francisco and Vancouver—are regularly using Mongolian airspace.
How Does the Route Change Affect Air India’s Operations?
Switching to the Mongolian route does not just mean flying a different path. It also creates several practical and financial challenges for Air India. Here’s how these changes affect their operations:
Longer Flying Hours
Since the Mongolian airspace route is not as direct as flying over Pakistan, flight times are longer. This means planes spend more time in the air. Longer flights can cause wear and tear on the aircraft and increase the risk of delays or other issues.
Higher Fuel Consumption
Airplanes use more fuel when flights are longer. The extra distance from following the Mongolian route increases costs for Air India. Higher fuel use not only affects the airline’s budget, but also impacts the environment due to higher emissions. These added expenses can affect ticket pricing, operating margins, and overall airline finances.
Technical Stops in Kolkata
For some United States and Canada flights, Air India now makes a technical stop in Kolkata. This helps the airline meet rules concerning fuel and ensures that flight crews do not exceed legal limits for working hours. Sometimes, this stop is needed because the longer route stretches the abilities of the planes and their crew. These technical stops are used for refueling or swapping crews as necessary, making sure flights can finish their long journey to North America safely and legally.
Crew Duty Time Complications
International rules limit how long flight crews can work without a break. The longer North America flights routed over Mongolia push closer to these limits. This means Air India has to carefully plan staff schedules and, at times, even carry additional crew members. Managing these changes adds more complexity to airline operations.
Aircraft Availability and Payload Restrictions
Longer flights and extra fuel requirements mean that sometimes less cargo and luggage can be carried, due to aircraft weight limits. This can impact the amount of goods, mail, and even passenger baggage that Air India can move on these flights. Juggling aircraft schedules gets harder when more time is spent in the air and on the ground for technical stops. The ripple effect may force Air India to reschedule other flights or temporarily keep some planes grounded for maintenance.
Why Has Air India Chosen This Strategy?
Air India’s main goals with this route change are:
- Reducing Cost and Time Impact: Although the route over Mongolia is longer, it is the best available, helping avoid or limit delays.
- Service Reliability: Air India is working to keep flights running as close to normal as possible so that travelers to the US and Canada are not disrupted.
- Adhering to Aviation Rules: The airline must follow safety, crew duty, and fuel regulations, which is why it sometimes needs technical stops and makes careful decisions about routes.
- Controlling Costs: Although fuel and operational expenses are up, choosing the Mongolian route reduces the impact. This lets Air India avoid even bigger costs from cancellations or bigger detours.
Officials also say that Air India is studying more choices for optimizing its North American network and looking for ways to limit the impact until the region’s air traffic returns to normal. This may include using different starting cities, new aircraft scheduling ideas, or changing flight frequencies.
The Ripple Effects Across Airlines and Passengers
The closure of Pakistani airspace does not only cause problems for Air India. Other global airlines flying between Asia and North America also struggle when direct routes are closed. Airlines often have to work together with aviation authorities and governments to get permission for new routes, like the current use of Mongolian airspace.
For passengers, these changes mean:
- Longer Flight Times: Trips take longer, so travelers may reach their destination later than before.
- Possible Changes to Schedules: Technical stops and longer flying hours can lead to schedule changes, possible delays, or even changes in departure and arrival times.
- Changes in Baggage and Cargo Policies: Carry-on and checked baggage allowance may be temporarily reduced.
- Ticket Prices: The higher costs to the airline might, in the future, affect ticket prices, though Air India works to keep fares stable.
The Importance of Mongolian Airspace
Mongolian airspace has become very important for airlines like Air India during this period. By allowing commercial planes to fly through its controlled airspace, Mongolia provides a safe and shorter corridor between India and North America. This cooperation supports international aviation and helps keep global travel links between countries open even when regional tensions block old flight paths.
Countries working together in aviation is often managed through international agreements and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Governments must give each airline permission to use their airspace. In this situation, Mongolia’s willingness to grant access has made a dramatic difference for thousands of travelers and for Air India’s ability to keep its trans-Pacific services running.
Historical Context: Geopolitics and Airspace Closures
This is not the first time political disputes have affected air travel between South Asia and the US and Canada. Over past decades, when conflicts have broken out in the region, affected countries sometimes closed their airspace to rival nations. The last large-scale closure was in 2019, after military clashes between India and Pakistan. Back then, airlines also had to re-route, sometimes dramatically increasing the distance and time for international flights.
Each time, airlines must adapt rapidly to keep business running, even if it costs more or causes delays. The present Mongolian detour is just the latest example of how geopolitical tension in one part of the world can echo across continents, affecting travelers, businesses, and global schedules.
What Does This Mean for Immigration and Travel?
Many passengers on Air India’s flights to the US and Canada are Indian nationals heading for work, study, or family reasons. Changes in schedules can affect visa appointments, interviews, or even arrival dates for students, business travelers, and families. In some cases, delays could make it harder for travelers to arrive before key dates, such as job reporting days, start-of-semester deadlines, or immigration interviews.
Employers, schools, and immigration advisors in the US and Canada need to know about these changes. They may need to allow for the possibility of delays when planning the arrival of new workers or students from India. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the change in air routes does not stop immigration, but it adds uncertainty and more planning. Immigration lawyers and consultants often recommend that travelers book flights well ahead and keep extra time for connecting flights or meetings, in case of unexpected delays.
Possible Next Steps and How This Might Change
Air India will likely keep reviewing its North American flight schedules as the situation continues. The key factor in returning to old routes will be when and whether Pakistani airspace reopens for Indian carriers. Until then, flying over Mongolia—despite its extra distance and cost—remains necessary for airlines to keep East-West travel flowing.
Travelers who rely on these long-haul Air India flights, especially those journeying between India, the US, and Canada, should:
- Check for updates on flight times before booking and closer to the date of departure.
- Be aware that trips may be longer than usual, especially on routes between Delhi, San Francisco, and Vancouver.
- Consider possible limits on baggage or changes to connecting flights.
- Keep in close contact with schools, employers, or immigration lawyers, especially for important deadlines.
- Visit official airline and government websites for regular updates on route statuses and documentation needs. One key source of official aviation notices and airspace information is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Final Thoughts
Air India’s use of Mongolian airspace in 2025 highlights just how connected today’s world has become. A single airspace closure, thousands of miles away, can affect immigration, education, business, and family life for travelers from India to the US and Canada. These changes show the importance of flexibility, international cooperation, and fast decision-making in airline operations.
While a return to more direct routes over Pakistan would make flights shorter, cheaper, and simpler, Air India’s adjustment provides a vital bridge for Indian travelers during uncertain times. For now, passengers heading to North America can still count on reaching their destinations, even if that journey takes a bit longer and comes with a few more steps along the way.
Learn Today
Airspace Closure → A government decision to deny passage through its skies, forcing airlines to find alternate, often longer, routes.
Technical Stop → An intermediate landing for refueling or crew changes, required when flights exceed range or regulatory limits.
Crew Duty Time → Maximum legal working hours allowed for airline crew before enforced rest, crucial for long-haul operations.
Payload Restriction → Limits on the amount of cargo, mail, and baggage an aircraft can carry, often due to extended route requirements.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) → A United Nations agency coordinating global aviation standards, including airspace agreements and permissions.
This Article in a Nutshell
In April 2025, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers, forcing Air India to reroute flights to the US and Canada over Mongolia. This detour increases flight times, costs, and operational complexity. Passengers should prepare for potential delays, baggage restrictions, and check for updates before traveling on affected Air India routes.
— By VisaVerge.com
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