SpiceJet, Air India, Jet Airwaysand IndiGo Airlines have petitioned New Delhi to allow them to transit the Arabian Gulf when flying to the Middle East from cities such as Ahmedabad.
At present, the carriers are forced to transit Pakistani airspace enroute to destinations such as Dubai, which is a more expensive route and potentially more dangerous given the recent deterioration in Pakistan-India relations.
The four airlines have since requested the Indian Ministry of Defense to allow them to use military airspace under a dual-use charter. The military has, in turn, said it would consider the request while noting the presence of several sensitive areas under the airlines' proposed flight paths.