The ongoing US-Iran conflict has forced airlines operating Hajj 2026 flights to reroute around closed airspace across Iran, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and Kuwait, adding significant flight time, fuel costs, and operational expenses that are now being passed on to pilgrims in the form of higher fares.
India Announces USD 100 Surcharge
The Haj Committee of India announced on April 30 that all registered pilgrims - over 100,000 in total - must pay an additional Rs 10,000 (approximately USD 100) per person due to rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices triggered by the Middle East crisis. The payment deadline is May 15.
The surcharge came after airlines initially demanded increases of USD 300-400 per pilgrim. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government negotiated the figure down: "For countless families, Haj is a once-in-a-lifetime dream. Through negotiations, we ensured the increase was restricted to just USD 100." Opposition Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi called the move "utter injustice," questioning why surcharges were imposed after fares had already been fixed.
The Indian government's position is that the hike was necessary to prevent airlines from cancelling or reducing Hajj flights entirely, and that it saved pilgrims USD 200-300 compared to what airlines had originally requested.
Why Flights Are More Expensive
The US-Iran conflict, which erupted on February 28, triggered widespread airspace closures across the region. Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian, Bahraini, and Kuwaiti airspace are closed to all civilian flights. The UAE's airspace has limited restricted access. This means airlines flying pilgrims from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa to Saudi Arabia cannot take their normal direct routes.
According to CNN, the closures have created a "hole in the sky" over the Middle East, forcing flights to take longer detour routes - typically southward through the Arabian Sea or northward through Turkey. These detours add 1-3 hours of flight time per journey, consuming significantly more fuel and requiring additional crew scheduling.
For Hajj operations specifically, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advises operators to avoid Saudi airspace except in the southern corridor at FL320 or above. While Jeddah and Madinah airports remain fully operational, the airspace constraints mean airlines are operating at higher cost per flight.
Pakistan's Situation
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other carriers operating Pakistan's 468-flight Hajj airlift are using rerouted flight paths with Boeing 777 aircraft. Flights from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Quetta, and Sukkur are all affected by longer routing. Pakistan has not publicly announced a surcharge equivalent to India's, but the increased operational costs are reflected in overall package pricing.
The rerouting also creates scheduling complexity. With flights taking longer, turnaround times at airports increase, and the overall capacity of the airlift is reduced. Some airlines have added additional flights to compensate, further increasing operational costs.
Impact on Other Countries
The cost impact extends beyond South Asia. Airlines operating from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh), East Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia all face similar rerouting challenges. Flynas, which is transporting 147,000 pilgrims from 18 countries for Hajj 2026, has had to adjust its operational plan to accommodate the airspace restrictions.
Insurance premiums for airlines operating in the region have also increased, adding another layer of cost. Safety risk analyses - including FAA assessments - are now required for each flight routing, adding administrative overhead.
What Pilgrims Should Know
If your Hajj operator contacts you about an additional surcharge or fare adjustment, verify the communication is genuine before making any payment. Scammers have been known to exploit situations like this to send fake "additional payment" requests. Always confirm through your operator's official channels.
For pilgrims who have already paid their full package, check with your operator whether the airspace-related costs are absorbed in the package price or will be charged separately. If you are asked to pay more, request a clear written explanation of what the additional cost covers.
Despite the higher costs, all Hajj flight operations are continuing as planned. Saudi Arabia has confirmed that all national quotas are being fulfilled and that the 3.1 million seats across 12,000+ flights remain allocated. The flights are more expensive and take longer - but they are flying.