Closure of air space over Iran hits ops, Indian carriers cancel flights

EVEN as the airlines were somehow managing the closure of air space in Pakistan post the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, the closure of air space in Middle East countries has put enormous stress on them. Cancellation of flights or circuitous routes has become the norm since June 13 after closure of air space was announced.

- S LALITHA @New Delhi

"The closure of air space by Pakistan followed by Iran, Iraq and then Jordan has forced us to take a roundabout route via Egypt, which involves an additional 45 to 60 minutes travel for every flight. On the day the closure of air space was announced, we had to divert 16 flights when they were airborne," an Air India official said.

"We operate an average of 50 flights (inward and outward) daily from India to the US and Europe. All of them have to go down south and fly through Egyptian air space. It has definitely increased the turnaround time for all our flights," the official said.