Indian airlines face major disruptions as Iran conflict and Pakistan airspace ban take toll

New Delhi — Indian airlines are experiencing significant operational challenges as ongoing tensions in Iran, coupled with the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, have severely impacted their international flight schedules.

According to data from Cirium, Air India and IndiGo were unable to operate 64% of their scheduled 1,230 flights to the Middle East, Europe, and North America over the past ten days. The combination of the Iran conflict and the existing ban on using Pakistani airspace has forced these carriers to either cancel or reroute a substantial number of flights, resulting in increased costs and longer travel times for passengers.

The disruption comes at a time when Indian airlines were already grappling with the challenges posed by the closure of Pakistani airspace. The recent escalation in Iran has further complicated flight operations, particularly for routes that typically traverse Iranian and Pakistani territories. As a result, airlines have had to make significant adjustments to their flight paths, leading to cancellations and delays.

The data highlights the scale of the impact, with nearly two-thirds of planned flights to key international destinations not taking off as scheduled. This has affected thousands of passengers and placed additional strain on airline resources.

Industry experts note that the current situation underscores the vulnerability of international air travel to geopolitical developments in the region. The ongoing disruptions are expected to continue until tensions ease and airspace restrictions are lifted.