Middle East tensions disrupt Indian flights

IndiGo announced on Saturday that all flights to and from the Middle East stand cancelled until 0000 hours IST, citing safety concerns due to changing airspace conditions

Metro India News | new delhi

Major Indian carriers, including IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express, have temporarily suspended flights to several Middle East destinations amid escalating tensions and evolving airspace restrictions around Iran and parts of West Asia.

IndiGo announced on Saturday that all flights to and from the Middle East stand cancelled until 0000 hours IST, citing safety concerns due to changing airspace conditions. The airline said services to Dubai, Jeddah, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Bahrain, Sharjah, Kuwait and Ras Al-Khaimah have been suspended.

In a statement, IndiGo said the decision was taken keeping the safety and security of passengers and crew as the highest priority. The airline added that its teams are closely monitoring the situation and recalibrating operations to minimise disruption for travellers.

Air India Express also suspended all its west-bound international flights in view of what it described as a “developing situation” in parts of the Gulf region. The airline said it is closely assessing the situation and will review its operations as necessary.

Soon after, Air India announced the suspension of all its West Asia-bound services. In a post, the airline confirmed that all flights to destinations across the Middle East have been halted until further notice. It reiterated that maintaining the highest standards of safety for passengers and crew remains its top priority.

Air India further stated that it will continue to assess the safety and security environment and adjust operations proactively. The airline assured that its teams are extending necessary support to affected passengers.

Earlier in the day, Air India’s Delhi-Tel Aviv flight was forced to return mid-air following the closure of Israeli airspace. The flight was diverted and scheduled to land in Mumbai.

The sudden suspension of flights is expected to impact thousands of passengers travelling between India and key Gulf destinations, which see heavy traffic due to business and expatriate travel. Airlines have advised passengers to check flight status updates before heading to airports.