NEW DELHI: Flight operations between India and West Asia have been severely disrupted since the outbreak of conflict in the region, with over 10, 000 flights operated by Indian carriers cancelled so far, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
According to Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian airlines that earlier operated around 300 to 350 daily flights to West Asia are now operating only 80 to 90 flights per day.
The sharp decline highlights the scale of disruption caused by the ongoing war in the region.
The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, leading to widespread airspace restrictions and safety concerns across key flight routes.
The latest figures mark a significant increase from earlier data shared in Parliament. On March 16, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu informed the Lok Sabha that Indian carriers had cancelled over 4, 335 flights, while foreign airlines cancelled up to 1, 187 flights due to rising tensions in West Asia.