In light of Iran launching missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, IndiGo and Air India have halted flights to numerous Middle Eastern destinations. While IndiGo is gradually resuming some routes, both airlines are vigilantly monitoring the situation and placing passenger safety as their utmost priority.
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Indian airlines IndiGo and Air India have paused numerous flights in the region. This decision follows Iran’s missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar, which were a response to recent attacks on its nuclear facilities.
Currently, both airlines are exercising caution and closely observing the situation before allowing their planes to take to the skies again. IndiGo Suspends Flights, Then Gradually Resumes Operations On Tuesday morning, IndiGo temporarily ceased flights to and from various major cities in the Middle East—including Dubai, Doha, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and others. This suspension lasted until at least 10:00 am and was described by the airline as a “proactive safety measure.” In a message on X (formerly Twitter), the airline stated, “As airports in the Middle East gradually reopen, we are carefully and progressively resuming operations on these routes.”
IndiGo also reassured passengers that it was selecting the safest flight paths and encouraged travelers to stay informed via their website or app. “We acknowledge the impact this may have on your travel plans and deeply regret any inconvenience,” the airline added.
Passengers have the option to rebook or request a full refund, and IndiGo is urging everyone to keep their contact information updated to ensure they receive any alerts.
Air India Halts Flights to the Middle East, North America, and Europe
Air India has taken an even more cautious approach by suspending all flights to the Middle East, the East Coast of North America, and portions of Europe—primarily for safety reasons. The airline reported that some flights bound for North America were required to turn back or reroute, while flights from India to those areas are currently on hold until further notice. In a statement, the airline noted: “Given the evolving situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region… until further notice.” A spokesperson further emphasized that Air India is in continuous communication with security experts and aviation authorities, ensuring that the safety of passengers and crew remains their highest priority.
Emirates Continues Operations, But With Caution
While IndiGo and Air India have scaled back their operations, Dubai-based Emirates has opted to maintain flights—albeit with caution. The airline confirmed that it had rerouted some flights on June 23, although it did not cancel any. After assessing the risks, Emirates continued its operations as scheduled but cautioned passengers about potential delays due to longer flight paths and congested airspace. The airline recommended that travelers verify their flight status prior to heading to the airport and to contact travel agents if they need to make rebooking arrangements.
Why the Sudden Disruptions?
The recent developments follow Iran’s missile attack on the Al-Udeid U.S. Air Base in Qatar, utilized by the U.S. military. Iranian officials stated that this action was a direct retaliation against America’s collaboration with Israel and its assaults on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s highest security council indicated that they deployed an equivalent number of bombs to those employed by the U.S. during previous military operations. A report from Reuters mentioned that the targeted base was situated far from urban areas or residential zones, and Iran clarified that it had no intention of threatening Qatar, referring to the nation as a “friendly and brotherly” neighbor.
Trump Claims Ceasefire—But Iran Says Not So Fast Compounding the uncertainty, U.S. President Donald Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to assert that he had facilitated a “complete and total ceasefire” between Iran and Israel. He proclaimed, “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE… for 12 hours… and upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World.” However, Iran was not in agreement.
Officials in Tehran promptly stated that no such accord had been reached, and they are awaiting confirmation that Israel will cease its attacks before making any definitive decisions. Both IndiGo and Air India are advising passengers to regularly check their apps or websites for the latest updates. If your flight has been either canceled or rerouted, you have the option to rebook or request a refund. Additionally, make sure to update your contact information to receive alerts immediately.
The airspace closure of the UAE and the Middle East will significantly affect flight operations, according to aviation expert Mark Martin, CEO of Martin Consulting. “The closure of the UAE and Middle East airspace will impact 65% of the total Indian international flights heading to Europe. The U.S. remains the primary expat labor market in the Middle East.
The conflict will also have a profound effect as Indians may seek to return from the Middle East, necessitating rescue operations should the situation deteriorate. We now urgently need to collaborate with China and Mongolia to open up their airspace, allowing our flights to navigate through it for immediate access.” “Nonetheless, another alternative route that can be considered involves flying over Ethiopia, entering Egypt, proceeding to Europe via Italy, and then reaching Morocco to access the Mediterranean Sea.
This route, however, will extend flying time by approximately four hours and will require a fuel or technical stop, which will consequently lead to an increase in airfares,” he stated. The ongoing developments will also have substantial economic repercussions, he further noted.
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