The recent escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict, marked by Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, has led to the closure of Iranian airspace, causing significant disruptions to international flights, particularly those originating from or destined for India. The closure, effective Friday, has forced airlines to reroute flights, leading to longer travel times and increased operational costs.
Air India, a major carrier operating flights between India and the West, has been severely affected. At least 16 of its international flights were either diverted mid-air or returned to their origin airports. Among the impacted routes were services connecting India with cities like London, Toronto, and New York. One Air India flight from London to New Delhi had a close call, entering Iranian airspace just as Israel launched its strikes. The flight was subsequently rerouted over Iraq, arriving in India an hour behind schedule.
The airline has issued a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and is offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to affected passengers, along with accommodation where necessary. Passengers are advised to check their flight status for updates.
The closure of Iranian airspace compounds existing challenges for Indian carriers. Pakistani airspace has been closed to Indian airlines since April 24th, and this restriction has been extended until June 24th. Consequently, traditional westbound routes via Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran are inaccessible. The current situation limits available air routes, potentially forcing airlines to fly further south to avoid conflict zones. This will test aircraft endurance and result in longer flight times from India to Europe. Flights between the West and India, mainly Delhi and Mumbai, will get even longer following the Iranian airspace closure.
IndiGo flights between Delhi and Tbilisi and Delhi and Baku may become one-stop flights. Indian carriers will have to take really longer routes to reach Central Asia with both Pakistan and Iran as no-go areas.
The Indian Embassy in Iran has issued an advisory urging Indian nationals and people of Indian origin to remain vigilant and avoid non-essential travel, highlighting the heightened tensions in the region.
The situation has had a ripple effect on global air travel. Several airlines, including Germany's Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, have suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran or cancelled flights to countries in the region. Other airlines like Air France KLM, Ryanair and Wizz Air have also suspended flights to and from Israel. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed due to war, the Middle East region has become an even more important route for international flights between Europe and Asia.
Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, and more of a safety concern. Detours add to airlines' costs, test aircraft endurance, and result in longer flight times.
As the conflict continues, the duration of the airspace closure remains uncertain. The situation is being closely monitored by airlines and aviation authorities to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
