Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said in the Rajya Sabha that the safety of airline operations is a top priority. | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday (March 16, 2026) that Indian airlines have so far canceled 4,335 flights and foreign carriers have canceled 1,187 flights due to the conflict in West Asia.
The escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has significantly disrupted air traffic due to the closure of airspace in the West Asian region.
In response to a supplementary question during Question Time, the Minister stated that the safety of airline operations is the highest priority.
Read: LIVE updates on the Iran-Israel war
“In terms of cancellations that have taken place due to the closure of West Asian airspace, almost till now, in aggregate, Indian carriers have canceled as many as 4,335 flights and foreign carriers have canceled as many as 1,187 flights,” Mr. Naidu said.
The minister stated that the safety of traffic is the top priority during this crisis and said there is no reason for us to operate in this area when the airspace itself is closed.
Mr. Naidu said that the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) are in constant communication with the regulatory authorities in these particular countries.
“Whenever there was a free slot for us, we operated. And I can tell you that almost 2,19,780 people also traveled during this crisis,” the minister said.
Mr. Naidu said his department and the DGCA have ensured safe operation in cooperation with the authorities there.
“And right now there is still some airspace that is still closed, and we are trying to make it as easy as possible for them. But first of all, the airspace must be open. It must be safe to travel. Only then can we ensure regular travel,” the minister said.
Published – 16 March 2026 16:26 IST
