Can India Shield Its Airlines From the Storm Brewing Over West Asia?
When geopolitical tensions flare thousands of kilometres from Indian shores, the turbulence doesn't stay contained. The ongoing West Asia conflict — drawing in the United States, Israel, and Iran — has been sending shockwaves through Indian aviation ever since hostilities escalated on February 28, and the country's civil aviation ministry is now scrambling to cushion the blow.The Cost Crisis Gripping Indian AirlinesAt the heart of the crisis lies a deceptively simple equation: jet fuel accounts for roughly 40 per cent of an airline's total operational costs. When oil prices surge and flight routes lengthen simultaneously, that number clim...
