According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, because of increased geopolitical tensions associated with the conflict between Iran and Israel, more than 760 Indian carriers cancelled flights While this number is less than previously reported estimates of more than 444 cancellations, it is one of the largest same-day disruptions in the international schedule for Indian airlines in many years. Flights from India to Europe that would generally have passed through the above airspace were included in the cancellation list.
As compared to other regions affected by the conflict, most affected carriers such as Indian Airlines and Indigo Airlines were forced to cancel flights or to find alternate flight paths as the Gulf airspace remained almost completely closed.
Airspace Closures After Conflict Escalation
Causes of Flight Cancellations – Airlines cancel flights because airspace over many West Asian countries – including Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and others – became closed to commercial and civilian traffic due to the increased risks of missile and drone attacks by or against military and/or civilian aircraft.
With Iran and several neighbouring states restricting flights, Indian carriers could not navigate their usual routes westwards without entering high-risk zones. Even long-haul flights to Europe and North America that use Middle Eastern airspace were affected, either cancelled or extensively rerouted through longer detours to avoid closed regions.
Read also: US-Israel strikes on Iran: Dubai International Airport damaged
Impact on Major Airlines and Routes
A cancellation notice was issued by the national flag carrier, Air India, for almost 50 international flights due to continuing security risks. Some international flights from India to Europe, including locations such as London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, and Frankfurt, were cancelled or deferred as a result.
As well, the airline Indigo suspended some services to the Middle East that transit through airspace that has been restricted, and has targeted services that use such airspace to be cut back. The airline is providing passengers whose travel has been affected by this disruption the ability to obtain full refunds for travel with no additional charges, and the ability to rebook.
More flights to/from the UAE operated by SpiceJet have also been cancelled for March 2 and 3 due to caution stemming from the closure of airspace.
Aeroflot, Akasa, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar are also experiencing disruption of their operational performance as a result of increased cancellations of their respective services.
Read also: Israel-Iran conflict : Iraq closes airspace after Israel
Passenger Strain and Operational Chaos
For travelers, this has been an extremely inconvenient travel experience. Many travelers have been left waiting to fly out of the largest airports in the world. Airlines such as Etihad Airways and Emirates have started operating limited flight service to and from Abu Dhabi and Dubai as of Monday evening; however, all regular scheduled flights are still canceled and the flight disruptions caused by this crisis remain the largest worldwide since before the pandemic began.
Governments and airlines continue to issue numerous updates to passengers regarding their ability to stay in touch with their airline for current airport status and the ability to request the refund or re-route of their ticket, where applicable.
Economic Impact and Industry Concerns
Many analysts believe that the disruption to aviation markets will negatively impact revenue for the airlines and increase airlines’ operational costs by increasing operational distance and fuel costs, and also decreasing passenger confidence along affected routes. In addition, because of the closure of major airspace in the Middle East, which serves as a major international transit corridor for Indian airlines, the long-term impact on both air traffic logistics and air traffic finance may occur beyond the immediate crisis caused by this event.
