image sourced from original article at India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has issued a travel advisory asking airlines to avoid flying through nine airspaces in West Asia due to escalating regional tensions. The affected areas include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Primary conflict zones highlighted are Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq.
Flights may continue over Saudi Arabia and Oman, but only above 32,000 feet and under specific safety conditions. Airlines operating to airports in the affected region have been instructed to undertake robust contingency planning and comprehensive safety risk assessments. Passenger and crew safety has been emphasised as the highest priority.
The advisory follows a sharp deterioration in the regional security situation, with several countries partially or fully closing their airspace. Indian airlines have already begun rerouting or cancelling flights, leading to longer travel times between India, Europe, North America and the Middle East, along with higher operational costs for carriers and potential disruptions for travellers.
