Due to the recent increased hostilities between the US and Iran and continuing protests in Iran, the country closed its airspace, disrupting international flight operations. Airlines have been rerouting and delaying, or cancelling flights for passenger safety during this time. The closure lasted for a few hours, but many flights from Asian, European and North American destinations were affected by the closure of Iranian airspace.
Reasons for Iran’s decision to close Commercial Airspace
The Iranian Government issued an order to temporarily close its commercial airspace due to the recent rise in geopolitical tensions. This means that the majority of commercial flights are no longer able to operate through Iranian airspace, unless they have received special permission to allow them to continue operating. Countries such as Germany and others have also issued travel advisories, advising their airlines not to fly through Iranian airspace, making it even more challenging for airlines to find a suitable route.
Major Flight Cancellations
A large number of international services were directly impacted by actions taken over Iran’s airspace: Air India Cancelled US Flights — Air India has subsequently announced that it has had to cancel at least three flights to the US that were scheduled to leave India on January 9, including flights from New Delhi to New York/JFK and Newark, and from Mumbai to New York, because the airspace closures made it impossible for them to reroute passengers on their intended flights.
IndiGo Flights Return to Baku — An IndiGo flight from Baku to New Delhi was forced to turn around and return to Baku because of the closure of Iran’s skies, highlighting the far-reaching implications of the temporary bans that cancelled a number of scheduled flights.
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Longer Delays and Additional Travel Times for Flights
Many airlines over Iran were compelled to fly around the Iranian airspace and fly longer routes, resulting in increased travel times due to increased flight times and fuel burned. Both Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have all published travel advisories advising on flight delays and to check flight status prior to leaving home.
What Passengers Should Know
SumThe recent disruption to global aviation caused by the Iranian air force’s decision to close its airspace for roughly five hours demonstrates just how vulnerable airline operations are to geopolitical changes around the world. Passengers flying on any of these impacted routes — particularly those originating in South Asia, Europe and the U.S. — should monitor their flight times closely, be prepared for possible schedule adjustments, and allow more time for future flights as carriers make adjustments to their routes.mary
Airlines are experiencing changes to their international flights due to the temporary closure of Iran’s airspace. Airlines, such as Air India for US flights and IndiGo for flights from India to Azerbaijan (Baku) returning to Delhi, have cancelled or rerouted flights. Passengers should stay informed about their flight status as airline companies adjust to these changing conditions.
