Iran Protests: Amid ongoing unrest, protests, and rising tensions with the United States, Iran has abruptly disrupted several international flight globally operations and forcing several airlines to cancel or reroute services. Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, issued travel advisories warning passengers of delays, cancellations, and longer flight durations.

The airspace closure, which remained in effect for several hours from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, affected a key aviation corridor used by flights travelling between Asia, Europe, the United States, and Central Asia.

Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet Issue Advisories, Cancel Several Flights | Key Points

- Air India and IndiGo cancelled multiple international flights on Thursday after the Iranian airspace closure disrupted operations. Services to the US, Europe, CIS countries, and Turkey were among those affected, officials said.

- SpiceJet also issued an advisory, cautioning passengers that some of its international flights could be impacted due to the closure.

- Tata Group-owned Air India cancelled at least three flights bound for the United States, while several European services experienced delays as aircraft were rerouted.

- Two flights from New Delhi to New York and Newark, along with one flight from Mumbai to New York, were cancelled.

- IndiGo flights to CIS nations, Europe, and Turkey were affected due to route restrictions over Iranian airspace.

- Services to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), and Tbilisi (Georgia) have been affected, with some flights cancelled, as these countries are part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

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- Flights to European cities and Istanbul were also impacted as airlines avoided Iranian airspace.

- Airline operational costs are expected to increase as longer alternative routes result in higher fuel consumption.

- Air India is already facing higher expenses due to the continued closure of Pakistan’s airspace, which has forced the airline to operate longer westbound routes.

- Tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate, raising concerns that the situation could deteriorate into a broader conflict.

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- Passengers have been advised to check the respective airlines’ websites for flight updates, flexible rebooking options, or refund procedures.

- Although Iran later reopened its airspace, airlines remain cautious due to ongoing unrest linked to the country’s economic crisis and the government’s crackdown on protests. Many carriers continue to operate via alternative routes, urging passengers to stay informed about their flight status.