New Delhi: Air India announced on Sunday the temporary suspension of flights to Tel Aviv amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. An official confirmed the suspension of direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv until further notice.
The Tata group-owned airline, which operates four weekly flights connecting the Indian capital to the Israeli city, had only recently resumed Tel Aviv services on March 3, following a five-month hiatus.
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Flights to and from Tel Aviv were halted since October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on the Israeli city.
In addition to Air India’s decision, several Western airlines flying to India have opted to avoid overflying Iran due to concerns over escalating tensions in the region. US President Joe Biden’s statement suggesting an imminent Iranian attack on Israel has further fueled apprehensions. There are fears of potential retaliation by Iran following an attack on its consulate in Syria.
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For instance, Air India Flight AI 161, departing from Delhi at 4:30 am on Saturday, deviated from its usual route and avoided Iranian airspace en route to London. Instead of the typical India-Pakistan-Iran-Turkey-Black Sea route, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner opted for a northern route, still overflying Russian airspace.
Similarly, Lufthansa’s Mumbai-bound flight on Friday chose an alternative route via Greece, the Mediterranean Sea, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabian Sea, avoiding Iran and Pakistan. Previously, it followed the Black Sea-Iran-Pakistan route to Mumbai.
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Despite these adjustments, Air India’s flying time remains largely unaffected, with the option to overfly Russian airspace mitigating any significant increase. For example, Saturday’s Delhi-London flight maintains a duration of nearly nine hours, consistent with previous routes.
The escalating geopolitical tensions have further restricted airspace for airlines. Commercial flights have long avoided Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, while the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has rendered both countries no-fly zones for most Western airlines. Additionally, US carriers have been circumventing Iranian airspace for some time now, further complicating the crucial west-east air route.
