New Delhi, March 5 (NationPress) Airfare costs on several prominent routes connecting North America and India have increased dramatically following the closure of significant airspace corridors that disrupted long-haul flight services. This situation has compelled airlines to reroute their flights and scale back operations.

The airspace disruption is a consequence of escalating tensions in parts of the Middle East, a region that typically serves as one of the busiest aviation routes globally.

Numerous airlines have halted their operations, grounded their planes, and cancelled various routes, which has had a profound impact on global flight networks.

The Middle East historically links major continents, including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, establishing it as an essential hub for both passenger and cargo transport.

However, flight tracking services like Flightradar24 are now displaying a remarkable transformation in the region's air traffic, with vast areas that were once bustling with aircraft now appearing strikingly vacant.

As airlines adjust their flight paths to avoid restricted airspace, ticket prices on crucial routes connecting North American cities with Indian destinations have surged significantly.

Data obtained from Google Flights illustrates steep fare hikes for routes linking cities like New York, Chicago, and Newark with Mumbai and New Delhi.

Among the most notable fare increases has been observed on the New York–New Delhi route. Current spot airfares from New York City’s JFK airport to New Delhi now range from approximately Rs 1.34 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh.

Under typical conditions, last-minute tickets on this route usually cost between Rs 45,000 and Rs 1 lakh, reflecting a staggering increase of over 100 percent.

Fares have also escalated substantially on flights operating between Newark and Mumbai. As per Google Flights data, current spot prices now range from Rs 1.08 lakh to Rs 2.9 lakh, compared to the regular last-minute fares that hover around Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000.

Flights departing from Chicago have witnessed some of the steepest fare increases. Spot fares for journeys between Chicago and Mumbai have surged by more than 150 percent, with current ticket prices falling between Rs 1.9 lakh and Rs 2.8 lakh. Typically, tickets on this route are priced between Rs 45,000 and Rs 75,000.

Meanwhile, ticket prices for flights between Chicago and New Delhi have also risen, now ranging between Rs 1.37 lakh and Rs 1.83 lakh, in contrast to the usual fare range of Rs 45,000 to Rs 70,000—indicating another increase of over 100 percent.