Air India Adjusts: Middle East Tensions Prompt Route Change

Tata-owned Air India has taken the strategic decision to circumvent Iranian airspace due to escalating discord in the Middle East following Iran’s allegations against Israel for the recent attacks on its embassy in Syria and subsequent retaliation pledges. ETV Bharat sources indicate that Air India is proactively avoiding Iranian airspace given the precarious situation.

Flight data from Flightradar 24 reveals that a London-bound Air India flight this morning opted for a longer route to steer clear of Iranian airspace. While Air India’s Delhi-Tel Aviv flight was operational on Saturday, the airline is expected to closely monitor these routes in the days ahead.

Following the conflict between Israel and Palestine that erupted after Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, Air India temporarily halted the Delhi-Tel Aviv route. Service resumed on March 3, 2024, marking nearly five months of suspension.

Global unrest frequently disrupts the aviation sector, resulting in route alterations or cancellations. Since the fall of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, commercial airlines have steered clear of the Islamic Emirate.

Similarly, American carriers bypass Iran due to longstanding hostilities, and Western nations have established no-fly zones over Russia and Ukraine since the onset of the conflict between the two countries.