Major airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, are experiencing major flight disruptions due to the closure of Iranian, Israeli and Iraqi airspace.
Flight operations to and from parts of West Asia were disrupted on Saturday after airspace closures linked to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, prompting airlines to reroute, divert or suspend their services.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, said it is closely monitoring developments related to Iran and its airspace, indicating possible operational changes if the situation worsens. “We are closely monitoring regional updates related to Iran and its airspace. Our teams stand ready to implement any necessary adjustments as the situation evolves,” the airline said, asking passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.
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“Customers are advised to check the status of their flight before departure. In case of any impact, updates will be sent immediately via registered contact details. We will continue to keep you updated and remain fully committed to providing our unwavering support during this period,” the carrier wrote in a message on X.
Meanwhile, Air India said its flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv was diverted to Mumbai after Israeli airspace was closed following the strikes. “AI139 operating from Delhi to Tel Aviv on February 28 will return to India due to the closure of airspace in Israel and in the interest of the safety of passengers and crew,” the airline said in a statement accessed by news agency PTI. “We will continue to evaluate the safety and security environment for our flight operations and proactively adjust operations as needed,” she added.
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Many international airlines were also affected. The Russian Ministry of Transport said that Russian airlines suspended their flights to both Iran and Israel due to the closure of airspace, while alternative routes for services to Gulf destinations were prepared. The ministry warned that the duration of flights would increase due to longer transfers, according to Reuters.
Dubai-based Flydubai said some of its flights were affected by the temporary closure of Iraqi, Iranian and Israeli airspace on Saturday.
Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 went to X and shared images of how civilian aircraft were not flying over conflict zones. Take a look below:
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Flightradar24 added that the closure of multiple airspaces led to the disruption of many airlines and routes across the region, as airlines rushed to avoid the restricted areas.
(With inputs from agencies)
