Iran-Israel conflict grounds over 60 international flights due to airspace closure; Indian repatriation flight diverted mid-air
PTC Web Desk: The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has begun to significantly impact international air travel, especially flights connecting India with the Middle East. As a result of rising regional tensions and temporary airspace closures across the Gulf, more than 60 international flights have been cancelled so far, affecting passengers across major Indian airports.
Over 48 flights cancelled at Delhi airport
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport witnessed the most disruption, with 48 flights cancelled — 28 incoming and 20 outbound — primarily to and from Middle Eastern destinations.
Jaipur, Lucknow and Ahmedabad also hit
Jaipur Airport reported the cancellation of six flights, including three arrivals and three departures linked to Middle Eastern cities. Lucknow Airport saw two outbound flights to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah cancelled due to UAE-Qatar airspace restrictions. Ahmedabad Airport had five incoming flights cancelled from London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, and Doha. Amritsar Airport saw the cancellation of SpiceJet’s SG-55 to Dubai, part of the widespread disruption.
The disruption began late on June 23, after Iran launched six missiles targeting the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in retaliation for reported attacks on its nuclear facilities. In response, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Iraq, and Kuwait temporarily closed their airspace, causing widespread flight diversions and cancellations.
Indian carriers have released advisories in light of the rapidly changing situation:
IndiGo: “As Middle East airports gradually reopen, we are resuming operations on affected routes cautiously. Passenger safety remains our top priority.”
SpiceJet: “Some flights may be impacted due to the temporary airspace restrictions in the Middle East.”
Akasa Air: “Outbound and inbound flights to the Middle East may be affected. All operations will continue through secure airspace only. We are closely monitoring the situation.”
Indian repatriation flight diverted mid-air
A special flight carrying 160 Indian nationals from Israel was diverted mid-journey due to the closure of several airspaces. Flight J91254, which departed Amman, Jordan, for Delhi via Kuwait on Monday around 2:30 pm, was redirected back to Kuwait after entering restricted zones. The diversion occurred following the June 22 Iranian missile strikes.
Air India suspends all Middle East operations
In a decisive move, Air India suspended all its flights to the Middle East following the missile attacks on the US base in Qatar. The airline confirmed that none of its aircraft were grounded in Qatar and that no alternative flights were scheduled. Air India Express, which operates 25 weekly flights to Doha from Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchirappalli, has also suspended operations. Additionally, the airline connects Doha with eight Indian cities via one-stop services: Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune.
- With inputs from agencies
