IndiGo flights to Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku canceled till January 28
What's the story
In light of the current situation, IndiGo has announced the cancellation of its flights to and from Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and also Baku (Azerbaijan) till January 28. The airline said it is closely monitoring the developments in the region around Iran, and proactively reviewing flight operations with safety as its top priority.
Route changes
Flight routes affected by Iranian airspace situation
IndiGo's flights to these destinations usually pass through Iranian airspace. However, due to the current situation, the airline is avoiding this airspace altogether. The duration of these flights from India is typically between six and seven hours. IndiGo uses its A320neo aircraft on these routes which don't have the range or fuel capacity for longer alternative routes.
Safety 1st
IndiGo's proactive measures amid rising tensions
In light of the escalating tensions between Iran and the US, IndiGo has canceled its Delhi-Tbilisi and Mumbai-Almaty flights. The airline said on X, "In view of the recent developments around Iran, we are making certain proactive changes to our flight schedules as part of our continued focus on safety."
Operational review
Air India reassesses transcontinental operations
Air India is also reviewing its transcontinental operations in light of the evolving situation. The airline had already stopped overflying Iran on Europe-bound routes, after a January 16 advisory from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned of an increased risk to civil aviation. The EASA advisory noted that "there is a heightened risk of misidentification in Iranian airspace," given the potential for US military action and heightened alert status of Iranian air defense forces.