Air India Suspends Flights to Middle East, Europe, North America amid Regional Tensions

Moneylife Digital Team 24 June 2025

Public Interest

In a major disruption driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, Air India has announced the immediate suspension of all flights to and from the Middle East, as well as routes connecting Europe and the east coast of North America. The airline confirmed the move in a travel advisory posted on its official X (twitter) handle.

#TravelAdvisory

“Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice. Our India-bound flights from North America are…
— Air India (@airindia) June 23, 2025

The suspension follows a series of missile strikes by Iran on the US military base at Al Udeid, Qatar, prompting nations across the Gulf—such as the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq—to close or restrict their airspace. Thousands of flights, including Air India’s long-haul operations, have been affected, with many being diverted mid air or cancelled entirely by carriers such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and British Airways.

Air India has stated that flights originating from North America and bound for India are either returning to their departure points or being rerouted via safer corridors, away from closed airspace. Specifically, services to and from five Canadian and US east coast airports—including New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington and Toronto—have been temporarily suspended.

The airline emphasised that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority. It continues to consult with external security advisors and promised to provide timely updates. Customers affected by the disruption are urged to contact Air India’s helpline or use the airline’s app and website to explore rebooking, refund and rerouting options.

This development compounds Air India’s ongoing challenges. The carrier is still recovering from the tragic crash of Flight AI 171 in mid June and facing operational constraints following a recent regulatory safety overhaul. The new flight suspension is expected to disrupt travel further and heighten pressure on schedules and customer confidence.

Meanwhile, other Indian airlines are adjusting routes and cancelling select services. Air India Express has diverted certain Gulf bound flights (e.g., Kochi Doha reshuffled via Muscat) and paused others due to low bookings and regional constraints. IndiGo has also issued advisories regarding delays and diversions, with a few flights returning to their origin airports.

Air travel analysts warn that the suspension across the Gulf will ripple into Europe and North America, causing longer flight times, higher fuel costs and continued disruption until airspace restrictions are eased.

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