Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have issued advisories to passengers, warning them that some flight operations may be affected. They advise passengers to always stay in touch with their airlines.
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The closure of Iranian airspace is clearly impacting Indian airlines. Air India and IndiGo canceled some of their international flights on Thursday, while several other services were delayed. According to officials, Air India’s flights to the US and Europe, and IndiGo’s flights to CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, Europe, and Turkey, have been most affected. Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have issued passenger advisories, warning that some of their flights may be affected due to the closure of Iranian airspace.
Air India Flights to the US and Europe Cancelled
Tata Group-owned Air India has canceled at least three flights to the US. According to an official, two flights from Delhi to New York and Newark and one from Mumbai to New York have been canceled. Some flights to Europe are also expected to be delayed.
Impact on IndiGo’s CIS, Europe, and Turkey services
IndiGo’s international flights have also been affected by the closure of Iranian airspace. According to officials, flights to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), and Tbilisi (Georgia) have been modified and some services cancelled. These countries are all part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Flights to several European cities and Turkey’s Istanbul airport have also been affected.
Airlines’ costs may increase
The closure of Iranian airspace is forcing airlines to fly longer alternative routes, which increases fuel consumption and potentially increases operating costs. Air India is already forced to take longer routes for many flights to Western countries due to the closure of Pakistani airspace. In October 2024, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson stated that the closure of Pakistani airspace is expected to cause the airline a loss of approximately ₹4,000 crore.
Difficulties in operating on alternative routes
Air India typically uses Iranian airspace for flights to the US and Europe. Iraqi airspace could be used as an alternative, but this route, due to its longer route, poses a problem for some US flights, making it unfeasible to operate.
Passenger Information
Air India stated on the social media platform X that due to the evolving situation in Iran and the airspace closure, alternate routes are being adopted to prioritize passenger safety, which may delay some flights. The airline stated that flights for which rerouting is not currently possible are being cancelled and passengers are apologized for the unexpected disruption.
IndiGo also posted on X stating that some of its international flights have been affected due to Iran’s sudden airspace closure. The airline stated that its teams are reviewing the situation and trying to provide better options to affected passengers. SpiceJet also stated that the closure of Iranian airspace may impact some of its flights, although no flights have been cancelled at this time.
Delhi-New York flight forced to return
Meanwhile, Air India reported that its flight AI101, traveling from Delhi to New York (JFK), was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to the sudden closure of Iranian airspace. According to the airline, the plane struck a foreign object while taxiing in dense fog after landing in Delhi, damaging its right engine.
Rising Iran-US Tensions
Tensions between Iran and the US are steadily rising, and there are fears that the situation could escalate into a military confrontation. Against this backdrop, the closure of Iranian airspace is clearly having an impact on global aviation services.
