New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran’s missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, major Indian airlines including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have issued travel advisories and temporarily suspended or diverted operations in the region. The situation has thrown international air travel into uncertainty, especially for passengers flying to or from West Asia, Europe, and North America.
Air India was among the first to announce a complete suspension of its operations to the Middle East as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe. The airline cited safety concerns over the volatile geopolitical climate and confirmed that some North America-bound flights were returning to their points of origin, while others were being re-routed to avoid closed or unsafe airspaces.
In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said, “Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region and certain international sectors with immediate effect. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our number one priority. We are monitoring the situation with guidance from external security advisors.”
Low-cost carrier SpiceJet also acknowledged disruptions, especially around Dubai, due to temporary airspace closures. “All departures and arrivals, along with connected domestic sectors, may be affected. We urge passengers to check real-time updates on our website or contact our helpline numbers,” the airline stated.
Akasa Air issued a statement warning of potential delays and cancellations, expressing regret over the inconvenience. “We understand this may affect your travel plans and sincerely regret the inconvenience,” the airline said, assuring passengers that updates would be made available promptly.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, took a slightly different approach by progressively resuming flights as some Middle Eastern airports reopened. However, the airline had earlier announced a temporary suspension of flights to and from multiple destinations across the Gulf and West Asia, including Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and Jeddah.
“IndiGo is prudently and progressively resuming flight operations on these routes as conditions allow. We are monitoring the situation very closely to ensure all flights are routed safely,” the airline said in an official statement.
The disruptions come after Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting U.S. military installations—specifically Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Ain al-Assad in Iraq—as retaliation for the American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Qatar confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted the missiles and that there were no casualties, adding that the country’s airspace has since been declared safe.
