Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Air India, owned by the Tata Group, has announced a proactive rerouting of its international flight paths, confirming that its aircraft are no longer operating over the airspaces of Iran, Iraq, and Israel. The move comes as Israel and Iran engage in an intensifying conflict involving missile strikes and attacks on key infrastructure across the region.
In an official statement on Saturday, an Air India spokesperson said the airline is taking precautionary measures to progressively avoid specific parts of the Persian Gulf airspace over the coming days. This adjustment will directly impact flights to key Middle Eastern destinations including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, and may also result in longer flight durations for select routes to Europe and North America.
“As a proactive measure, we will be progressively avoiding the use of certain airspace over the Persian Gulf in the coming days, opting instead for alternative paths,” the spokesperson said. The airline is working closely with external security advisors and continues to monitor the evolving geopolitical situation, ready to take further steps to ensure passenger safety and operational integrity if needed.
The ongoing conflict has disrupted air travel across the region. Israel’s leading airlines, including El Al, Arkia, and Israir, have suspended all rescue operations and extended the suspension of regular flights through June 27. Germany’s Lufthansa has also halted flights to Tehran and is avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Israel. Meanwhile, Emirates has canceled services to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran, and Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
Tensions have escalated following a reported U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Israel to close its airspace as a precautionary measure, according to the Israel Airports Authority. However, land borders into Egypt and Jordan remain open for movement.
As the regional conflict continues to unfold, international carriers, including Air India, are adjusting operations to prioritize passenger safety while navigating complex and volatile airspace scenarios.
