Parliament Question: Disruption in Flight Operations on International Routes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2011 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30th July 2026 ) DISRUPTION IN FLIGHT OPERATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL ROUTES 2011. SMT JUNE MALIAH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the evolving security situation and armed conflicts in the West Asia/Gulf region on international operations of Indian airlines and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of flights rerouted, diverted or cancelled by Indian carriers due to airspace restrictions during the last two years, year-wise; (c) whether the resultant airspace restrictions, route diversions and security advisories have affected flight schedules, operational costs, passenger traffic and airfares on services operated by Indian carriers to Europe, North America and the Gulf region and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the economic impact of such disruptions on the Indian civil aviation sector including airlines and air cargo operations and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the measures taken by the Government in coordination with the relevant national and international agencies to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, maintain uninterrupted air connectivity and mitigate the operational and financial impact on Indian airlines? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) and (b): The Government continuously monitored the situation in the West Asia/Gulf region. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued advisories to address and ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft evolving from the risks arising from the West Asia conflict. These advisories provide operational guidance on affected airspace, including Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), identification of high-risk areas, Flight Information Region (FIR) boundaries and impacted countries, enabling operators to plan safe routing after conducting comprehensive Safety Risk Assessments. (c) to (e) : Indian carriers have informed that re-routing of flights has led to increased flight durations and higher fuel consumption, resulting in additional operational costs for airlines. The extent of such costs depends on route diversion, duration and prevailing fuel prices.Further, as informed, airlines are incurring significant revenue losses due to the ongoing crisis. Airlines are, however, taking necessary measures to mitigate the impact while ensuring continuity of operations. ; A 24*7 Passenger Assistance Control Room was established for real-time coordination and passenger support. Passenger assistance was also provided through airport help desks and real-time travel updates by airlines. The Ministry also worked closely with the Ministry of External Affairs to address emerging requirements relating to Indian carriers and Indian nationals in the region. The Indian Mission in Riyadh, in coordination with Indian Missions in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE, facilitated the transit of affected individuals through Saudi Arabia. ******