NEW DELHI: Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Air India has temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv and airlines have planned alternative flight routes to avoid Iranian airspace. This situation could also lead to higher airfares, as longer flight routes increase operating costs for airlines. Air India, Vistara, Indigo and some international airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace and choosing alternative routes for flights to the west. IndiGo, which operates flights to Istanbul on aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines, is avoiding Iranian airspace, officials said.
Middle East and European Airlines
Major Middle Eastern airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways announced on Sunday that they would resume operations in the region, with some flights canceled or rerouted. Independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie said it was not yet clear whether the recent unrest would impact passenger demand, which has remained strong despite ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. “If the political situation and conflicts continue to escalate, at some point people will be worried about traveling, but so far that hasn't happened,” Sobie said.
Saudi Arabia's flag carrier Saudia has suspended all services to airports in the country's northern region until further notice. The airline had previously recalled Riyadh-bound flights bound for Al Qurayyat. Meanwhile, Jordan has closed its airspace indefinitely to all inbound, outbound and transit aircraft. As a result, Kuwait Airways canceled a flight to Al Qurayyat in Jordan (both Saudi Arabia and Jordan have a place named Al Qurayyat). The airline has temporarily suspended flights to Iraq, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon. Meanwhile, the European Aviation Agency said civilian overflights were not at risk, but urged caution in Israeli and Iranian airspace. Dutch airline KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has canceled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until Tuesday.
Biggest disruption since 9/11
Mark Gee, founder of OPSGROUP, which monitors airspace and airports, said it was the largest single disruption to air travel since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. “We haven't seen a situation in which so many different airspaces have been closed in quick succession since then, and it's causing chaos,” Gee told Reuters, adding that the disruption was likely to continue for several more days.
The latest route problems are a blow to an industry already facing numerous restrictions due to conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Russia and Ukraine. Iran's airspace is used by airlines flying between Europe and Asia, and those airlines will be limited to two viable alternative routes: via Turkey or via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Gee said. Israel closed its airspace on Saturday and reopened it on Sunday morning. Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon have also resumed flights over their territory.
(Information from PTI and Reuters)
