Air India, IndiGo flights disrupted as Iran shuts airspace amid US tensions

Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet flights were disrupted after Iran shut its airspace amid protests and rising tensions with the US. India has advised its nationals to leave Iran

PGurus Newsdesk

January 15, 2026

Iran Airspace Closure Hits Indian Airlines, Triggers Delays and Cancellations

Airlines reroute or cancel flights citing safety concerns

International flight operations of major Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, were disrupted on Thursday after Iran abruptly shut its airspace amid escalating internal unrest and rising tensions with the United States.

Air India said several flights overflying the region have been rerouted as a safety precaution, leading to delays, while some services have been cancelled where alternate routing is not feasible. In a post on X, the airline urged passengers to check flight status before heading to airports, stressing that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority.

IndiGo also confirmed that a number of its international flights were impacted due to what it termed a “sudden airspace closure” by Iran. The airline said it was working to support affected customers by offering rebooking options or refunds. SpiceJet issued a similar advisory, attributing disruptions to the closure of Iranian airspace.

Iran ordered the closure of its airspace to commercial aircraft without providing an official explanation, with notices to pilots indicating the restriction would remain in place until Thursday morning local time. The move comes against the backdrop of widespread protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and heightened tensions with Washington. Aviation safety platform SafeAirspace warned that carriers are increasingly avoiding Iranian airspace due to concerns over potential military activity and air defence risks.

Amid the deteriorating security situation, India on Wednesday advised its nationals in Iran to leave the country using available means and cautioned against all non-essential travel to the Islamic Republic until further notice.

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