Middle East tensions disrupt air travel: Over 140 international flights cancelled at major Indian airports
PTC Web Desk: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has begun to affect international air travel from India, leading to widespread disruptions at several major airports on Friday. More than 140 international flights were cancelled at airports in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata, according to airport officials.
Authorities reported that at least 142 flights were called off across these four airports as airlines adjusted schedules due to the evolving situation in West Asia. At the airport in Mumbai, 39 departing flights and 34 incoming flights were cancelled during the day.
The airport in Bengaluru witnessed a total of 33 cancellations, including 15 outbound flights and 18 arrivals. Meanwhile, the airport in New Delhi recorded 29 cancellations, with 15 departures and 14 arrivals affected.
In Kolkata, seven international flights were cancelled, comprising four departures and three arrivals.
The disruption comes amid rising tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has led to the closure of certain airspaces across parts of the Middle East. With several flight routes passing through the region, airlines have been forced to reroute or cancel services to ensure passenger safety.
Despite the disruptions, some airlines have gradually begun restoring limited operations on specific routes. Akasa Air confirmed that it would operate its Mumbai–Jeddah–Mumbai service on Friday. The airline also announced that on Saturday it plans to run flights from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kochi to Jeddah.
In another development, SpiceJet said it would operate 14 special flights from the United Arab Emirates to bring back passengers who were stranded due to the flight disruptions.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that it was closely monitoring the situation in West Asia. The ministry also noted that Indian domestic carriers had cancelled 281 scheduled flights on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
Officials indicated that flight operations could continue to face adjustments depending on how the geopolitical situation in the region evolves.
- With inputs from agencies
