Tata Group-led Air India has rerouteed flights to Europe and Europe, as well as the East Coast of the US and Canada, along with the East Coast of the US and Canada, due to rising military hostility involving Iran, Israel and the US.
Sources say the latest developments, coupled with Pakistan’s airspace closure, have led airlines to use the Red Sea route.
“In given circumstances, the airline is using the West Indian route to Europe to arrive in Europe via overflights in the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Egyptian airspace and Greece,” according to sources. BusinessLine.
“These flights do not need to be fueled at technical stops. They can fly directly from airports in western India to Europe. However, direct flights from North India will need to be fueled at domestic airports in the western region.”
Currently, Air India connects 10 European destinations with direct flights from India by operating more than 100 times a week. *
The airline’s largest European market is the UK, operating more than 60 flights a week. In addition, some of Air India’s forward flights from Delhi to the US and Canada require refueling in Vienna.
However, Air India Flights between Delhi and New York (JFK) and New Jersey (Newark) will continue to operate non-stop on flagship A350 aircraft.
Conversely, some inbound flights from the US and Canada’s west coast have been fuel-disrupted in Kolkata.
On Sunday, Air India said it would “gradually avoid the use of certain airspace in the Persian Gulf in the coming days,” as hostilities increased due to the US entry in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
The airline said it had instead opted for an alternative path for flights to destinations that include the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
“This adjustment could lead to an extension of these services and some flights between Europe and North America,” an Air India spokesperson said on Sunday.
“Air India is in continuous consultation with external security advisors, vigilantly and monitored the evolving situation and is ready to implement additional measures to maintain the safety and integrity of our business, if necessary.”
Currently, the airline is operating a long-term reduced schedule of long-haul flights through July 15th, 2025, with safety checks on the Widebody Fleet.
These reductions continued from June 21, 2025 to July 15, 2025.
Air India has recently attributed several factors to international business disruptions, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, curfews in airspaces in Europe and East Asia, strengthened safety inspections, and a careful approach by engineering staff and pilots.
These factors resulted in 83 flight cancellations over six days.
As a result, Air India has decided to manage a 15% reduction in international services on pervasive aircraft over the coming weeks.
Released on June 23, 2025
