New Delhi, April 6

Pakistan has opened one of its 11 air routes for west-bound flights from India and Air India has started using it, said a senior government official today.

“Pakistan has been opening its airspace in tranches. On Thursday, it opened one of the 11 routes for west-bound flights. Therefore, airlines such as Air India and Turkish Airlines have started using it,” he said.

Though route P518 was opened on Thursday, American airline company United Airlines said on Friday that its flight connecting Newark and Delhi has been suspended for two weeks.

Pakistan had kept its airspace fully closed after an IAF strike in Balakot on February 26. On March 27, Pakistan opened its airspace for all flights except for Bangkok, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur. “Since the route P518, that has been opened, passes over south Pakistan, the air travel time for west-bound flights from Delhi won’t decrease substantially,” the official clarified. — PTI