New Delhi: The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel triggered the major Indian carriers, IndiGo and Air India, to suspend all their flights to the Middle East. The attack went far beyond their regions, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and parts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan.
Air India and IndiGo cancelled all the incoming and outgoing flights from the Middle East in view of the ongoing attack in the region, citing the safety and security of the passengers.
“In view of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East, all Air India flights to all destinations in the Middle East have been suspended. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety for our passengers and crew,” the advisory issued by Air India read.
Not just Indian carriers suspended their operations in and from the Middle East; several international airlines also suspended or cancelled flights to and from the Middle East. Earlier, the USA and Iran launched an attack on Iran with joint strikes near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“We will continue to assess the safety and security environment for our flight operations and adjust operations proactively as required. Our teams will be extending all necessary support to passengers,” the advisory added.
The European, Middle Eastern, and Asian airlines also cancelled or changed the route, as several flights were in mid-flight when the tensions escalated.
IndiGo also issued an advisory in which it stated that the operations are suspended until midnight. They also cited the safety and security of the customers, as they stated that the “passengers and crew are our highest priority.” Our teams are continuously monitoring the evolving situation and recalibrating operations to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
SpiceJet, an Indian carrier, also confirmed the closure of flights to Dubai and the Middle East region.