Indians Face Travel Uncertainty As Middle East Tensions Disrupt Flights
As tensions intensify in the Middle East, the impact is being felt thousands of kilometres away in India. At Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, anxious passengers and families are grappling with flight delays, cancellations, and uncertainty as airlines adjust routes to avoid conflict zones.
The disruptions come amid escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel, which have reportedly involved missile and drone exchanges. In response, Iran has closed its airspace and imposed tighter internet restrictions, forcing airlines worldwide to reroute or suspend services across the region.
Indian Students Stranded In Iran
The crisis has also affected Indian nationals living in Iran. In the southern city of Shiraz, a student from Srinagar described a tense and uncertain situation.
Communicating through intermittent VPN connections due to internet restrictions, the student said everyday life has become increasingly difficult. According to her, the sound of surveillance drones and air defence activity has become common, and explosions have reportedly been heard in the area.
She also noted that banking services are being affected, with ATMs running low on cash, making basic transactions difficult.
Flight Cancellations Hit Delhi Airport
Back in India, aviation disruptions are growing. Around 100 flights to and from the Middle East and Western destinations were cancelled at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday as airlines adjusted operations to avoid potentially dangerous airspace.
Airlines have been forced to reroute aircraft away from Iranian and Israeli airspace to ensure passenger safety.
Faith Over Fear For Umrah Pilgrims
Despite the uncertainty, some passengers remain determined to travel. Several families heading for the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca waited anxiously at the airport.
Dr Rafia Khan, who came to see her parents off, said the family was initially worried due to the growing tensions across the Gulf region. However, she confirmed that flights operated by Air India and Saudi Arabian Airlines to Saudi Arabia were operating normally at the time.
“We were scared because the Gulf is tense right now,” she said, adding that airline staff had been helpful in providing updates. “The situation is worrying, but we believe everything will be fine.”
Another pilgrim echoed the sentiment, saying they had applied for the Umrah journey months earlier when the situation was normal and decided to proceed despite the risks.
Passengers Left Stranded
For others, travel plans have collapsed entirely. A passenger named Badruddin, who was scheduled to travel to Muscat, said his Air India flight scheduled for the morning was suddenly cancelled.
According to him, several flights from Mumbai to Middle Eastern destinations have also been called off, leaving passengers uncertain about rescheduling.
Delays For International Travellers
International travellers are also facing major delays. Akshay Sharma, a London-based doctor, said his original flight to London was cancelled due to the crisis.
He later rebooked a connecting flight with EgyptAir via Cairo, but that journey too has been delayed by several hours.
Sitting beside him at the airport, his grandmother expressed concern about the uncertainty surrounding their travel plans but said returning home was important.
Airspace Restrictions Continue
Parts of Saudi Arabia have also issued partial airspace restrictions, particularly near areas bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf, according to aviation advisories.
With airlines constantly adjusting routes and safety protocols, travellers across the region are likely to face continued uncertainty until the geopolitical situation stabilises.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
