International operations of Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet were disrupted on Thursday after Iran shut its airspace, a move that comes amid widespread protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iran has ordered the closure of its airspace to commercial aircraft without offering a reason, as tensions with the United States remained high over Tehran’s response to ongoing nationwide protests. A notice to pilots indicated that the closure was expected to remain in effect until 7:30 am local time, according to the Associated Press.
Air India said the closure has forced several of its flights to take longer routes, while some services have been cancelled where rerouting is not feasible. In an advisory posted on X, the airline said, “Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where currently rerouting is not possible are being cancelled.”
The airline urged travellers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport, stressing that “safety of our passengers and crew remain top priority.”
IndiGo also confirmed disruptions to a section of its international network following what it described as the “sudden airspace closure” by Iran. “Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives,” the airline said on X.
Calling the situation beyond its control, IndiGo added: “We regret the disruption it may have caused to your travel plans. If your flight is impacted, we encourage you to visit our website to explore flexible rebooking options or to claim a refund, as per your preference.”
SpiceJet issued a similar travel update, warning that some of its flights may be affected due to the Iranian airspace shutdown. The carrier advised passengers to check their flight status and contact its 24/7 reservation helpline for assistance.
Iran had taken similar steps in the past during a 12-day conflict with Israel, and during exchange of fire with Israel amid the Israel–Hamas war.
Aviation risk monitoring platform SafeAirspace said several airlines have already scaled back or suspended services through the region. “Most carriers are avoiding Iranian airspace,” it said, warning that the situation could point to “further security or military activity, including the risk of missile launches or heightened air defense,” which raises the danger of civilian aircraft being misidentified.
