Air traffic between India and Israel was suspended on Saturday, February 28, after Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights following military strikes on Iran. The move prompted airlines and airport authorities to issue passenger alerts and operational updates, with several flights rerouted, diverted or grounded.
The recommendations come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following Israel’s announcement of a pre-emptive strike against Iran, an action confirmed by Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also acknowledged US involvement, saying the US had launched “major combat operations in Iran”.
IndiGo Consulting
India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, said it was closely monitoring regional updates regarding Iran and its airspace, signaling possible operational changes if the situation worsened.
“We are closely monitoring regional updates regarding Iran and its airspace. Our teams are ready to make any necessary adjustments as the situation evolves,” the airline said on X (formerly Twitter), urging flyers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
IndiGo also said that in case of any impact on its operations, passengers will be informed immediately through their registered contact details.
Delhi Airport warns of traffic disruption
Meanwhile, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport, also issued a travel advisory warning passengers of possible disruptions to flight schedules.
“Due to the evolving political situation in the Middle East region, westbound international flights may experience disruptions or schedule adjustments. Passengers are strongly advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight information before departing for the airport. Please check our website for flight updates,” DIAL said in a post X.
“We sincerely appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please rely only on official channels for verified updates on the situation,” it said.
Air India diverts flight
In view of the closure of Israeli airspace, Air India on Saturday diverted its Delhi-Tel Aviv flight to Mumbai after the aircraft could not continue to its scheduled destination, news agency PTI reported.
“AI139 operating on February 28 from Delhi to Tel Aviv is being flown back to India due to the closure of airspace in Israel and for the safety of passengers and crew,” the airline said in a statement.
“We will continue to evaluate the safety and security environment for our flight operations and proactively adjust operations as needed,” Air India said.
The flight, operated by a Boeing 777, was in the air for more than five hours and the airline decided to return while in Saudi Arabian airspace, according to information available on flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com.
