The sudden closure of Iranian airspace on Wednesday night into Thursday morning has led to significant disruptions in international air travel, prompting flight cancellations, rerouting, and increased travel times. The closure, initiated at 22:15 GMT on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, was implemented via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The NOTAM restricted access to the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR) for all flights, except for international arrivals and departures to and from Tehran FIR with prior authorization from the Iran Civil Aviation Authority. While a subsequent NOTAM announced the resumption of normal operations, many airlines are still avoiding the airspace for safety considerations.
Air India was particularly affected, forcing the cancellation of Thursday morning's Delhi-New York JFK (AI 101), Delhi-Newark (AI 105), and Mumbai-JFK (AI 119) flights, along with their corresponding return flights. IndiGo, another major Indian carrier, experienced disruptions as its Baku-Delhi flight was compelled to return to the Azerbaijan capital shortly after departure, as its route was to overfly Iran after crossing the Caspian Sea.
The closure of Iranian airspace has broader implications for flights between India and the West, as airlines are now avoiding both Iranian and Iraqi airspace, leading to longer flight durations. For Indian carriers, this avoidance means rerouting around the entire stretch from Iraq to Pakistan. IndiGo may need to reassess its Almaty, Tashkent, and Baku flights, as the significantly extended routes could necessitate a refueling stop in locations like Jordan.
Several other airlines have also been impacted. A Russia's Aeroflot flight bound for Tehran was forced to return to Moscow. Germany had issued a directive cautioning its airlines against entering Iranian airspace. Lufthansa has also decided to bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice.
The reason behind the sudden airspace closure remains unclear, although it occurred amidst escalating tensions in the region and concerns about potential military actions. A Western military official told Reuters that "all the signals are that a US attack is imminent". The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also posted a notice regarding the closure. The US Embassy in Kuwait has ordered a temporary halt to its personnel visiting military bases.
The situation is evolving, and airlines are closely monitoring developments to ensure the safety of their passengers and crew. Air India has stated that flights overflying the region are now using alternative routings, potentially leading to delays, and is advising passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. IndiGo has also acknowledged the potential for extended travel times due to the alternate paths being taken.
