Indian airlines flying to the United States and Europe are taking longer routes, making passengers stay in the air for up to 45 minutes more than usual.
This change comes as airlines avoid Iranian airspace due to tensions in West Asia, as reported by India Today.
Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo are some of the Indian airlines avoiding Iranian airspace. They’re now choosing detours through Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
Data from flight tracking reviewed by India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team reveals that flights between Delhi and Mumbai and cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, and New York are spending 15-45 minutes more in the air since April 13. This is when Iran launched attacks against Israel using rockets and drones.
Vistara stated, “Contingency routes are being used instead, resulting in longer flight times and delays.”
Officials predict that flight fares on routes connecting Indian cities to the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East might increase. This is due to airlines using more fuel because of the longer routes.
Commercial airlines use dynamic pricing to adjust fares based on various factors, including the route. Longer routes mean more expenses for airlines.
Iran had issued notices to air missions (NOTAM) before attacking Israel, advising caution while flying over Iranian airspace. Many airlines have chosen to avoid this airspace in anticipation of possible Israeli counterattacks.
For instance, Vistara’s Mumbai-Paris non-stop flight, UK23, took 48 minutes longer on April 13 and 40 minutes longer on April 14. Similarly, Air India’s Mumbai to London flight, AIC131, took 19 minutes longer on April 14 and 33 minutes longer on April 15.
Flights between New York and Delhi/Mumbai also experienced slight increases in flight time due to route changes. Many of these flights now take the Central Asian route instead.
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