New Delhi- The global aviation sector is facing severe disruption after escalating military tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran led to the closure of critical airspace corridors across West Asia, triggering widespread flight cancellations and diversions worldwide.
As of Sunday, airlines across multiple regions have been compelled to cancel or reroute services following emergency safety restrictions imposed on key transit routes. According to aviation industry estimates, more than 700 flights have already been cancelled globally, while hundreds more have been diverted to longer alternative paths to avoid conflict zones.
What began as precautionary safety measures has now escalated into a major operational crisis. Large parts of West Asia — a vital hub for international air traffic — are either completely closed to civilian aircraft or functioning under stringent navigation controls. Airspace over countries such as Iran and Israel has been particularly affected, sharply curtailing normal flight movements.
Major Gulf aviation hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, have also imposed restrictions, resulting in cascading delays across global airline networks.
Flights linking Asia, Europe and North America have been among the worst impacted, as many long-haul routes rely on uninterrupted passage through Middle Eastern airspace.
Indian carriers have been hit particularly hard due to their dependence on Gulf transit routes. IndiGo has cancelled over 350 flights within a three-day span. The airline grounded 166 flights on March 1, followed by 162 on March 2 and 43 on March 3 — amounting to nearly 7–8 per cent of its typical daily operations, which usually range between 2,100 and 2,200 flights.
Other Indian airlines, including Air India and Air India Express, have also suspended or rerouted several services to the Gulf and West Asia in response to security advisories and airspace closures.
Globally, the turmoil has placed additional strain on major international carriers. Gulf-based airlines such as Emirates have cancelled or diverted flights, while European operators like Lufthansa have revised schedules to prioritise passenger safety.
To circumvent restricted zones, aircraft are being forced onto longer routes, significantly increasing flight times, fuel consumption and operating costs. This has added financial pressure on airlines at a time when the industry is still recovering from previous global disruptions.
With inputs from IANS