Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Air India said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 15, 2026) that flights over Iran may experience delays as they use an alternative route due to the closure of Iranian airspace, following tensions in Iran and anti-government protests over the economic crisis.
“Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace and for the safety of our passengers, Air India flights crossing the region are now using an alternative route, which may lead to delays,” the airline said in a statement.
Protests sparked by a shopkeepers’ strike over hyperinflation and a falling currency spread across the country and turned violent in Iran in early January. About 2,000 people have been killed so far in protests across Iran, an Iranian official said on Tuesday (13). Tensions are rising between Iran and the US, with fears the situation could escalate into conflict between the two countries.
Air India added that some flights are being canceled where rerouting is currently not possible.
She asked passengers to check the status of their flights on Air India’s website.
IndiGo said its international flights are also affected by Iran’s airspace closure.
“Due to the sudden closure of Iran’s airspace, some of our international flights are affected. Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives,” IndiGo said in a post on X.
In a post on X, SpiceJet said some of its flights may be affected due to the closure of Iran’s airspace.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and discussed the current unrest in Iran and rising regional tensions in West Asia.
The conversation took place hours after the Ministry of External Affairs “strongly advised” Indian citizens to avoid traveling to Iran “until further notice”.
At the same time, the Embassy of India in Tehran urged Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin to leave the country by any available means of transport, including commercial airlines, and asked their family members residing in India to register them on the embassy’s helpline page.
Due to the emerging situation in Iran, subsequent closure of its airspace and for the safety of our passengers, Air India flights over the region are now using an alternate route which may lead to delays. Some Air India flights where…
— Air India (@airindia) January 15, 2026
Published – 15 Jan 2026 06:57 IST
