‘The mental toll of planning travel through the Middle East now is real'
Amid the tensions and unrest in the Middle East, on Monday, multiple countries closed their airspaces and several Middle Eastern airlines cancelled their flights. While Air India had temporarily suspended operations to North America, Europe and the Middle East, on Tuesday the airlines said it will progressively resume flights to these regions.
However, with several long-haul flights cancelled, delayed or diverted, travel anxiety has been running high and trip organisers report there is panic among travellers as many have been stranded around the world.
After briefly closing their airspace, Bahrain and Kuwait have reopened it, as per a Reuters report. Dubai Airports also resumed operations following a short suspension but warned of possible delays and cancellations on X.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace shut due to the ongoing war, the Middle East has become a key corridor for Europe–Asia flights. According to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions, carriers are now likely avoiding hubs like Doha and Dubai over fears of potential drone or missile strikes on US military bases in the region.
'Travel insurance a must'
Mandatorily check your flight status before leaving for the airport
Maintain contact with your travel agent, especially for cancellations, emergencies
Make sure you have a travel insurance that covers you for delays and disruptions – Zakauddin of Holiday Hub
In a travel advisory, Air India announced, 'As airspaces gradually reopen in certain parts of the Middle East, Air India will progressively resume flights to the region starting today, with most operations to and from the Middle East resuming from 25 June.
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Flights to and from Europe, previously cancelled, are also being progressively reinstated from today, while services to and from the East Coast of the US and Canada will resume at the earliest opportunity.
Some flights may experience delays or cancellations due to consequential impacts and extended re-routings/ flight times, but we are committed to minimising disruptions.'
'This is a serious setback for India's travel and tourism sector'
Speaking on the disruption in air travel, Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, said, 'The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has begun to cause widespread disruption in international air travel...
This development is a serious setback for India's travel and tourism sector. The connectivity between India and key markets in Europe, the Middle East, and North America will be significantly affected, impacting both outbound and inbound traffic.
If the situation continues to escalate, we may witness large numbers of travellers stranded at various global transit points. This will not only create logistical challenges but also lead to emotional and financial distress for passengers and increased pressure on tour operators and airline partners to provide emergency assistance.'
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