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Over 5,500 Flights Cancelled as West Asia Crisis Closes Airspace

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu informed Parliament that Indian carriers have cancelled over 4,335 flights due to the West Asia crisis, with foreign airlines cancelling another 1,187. He emphasized that passenger safety is the paramount concern, and flights cannot operate where airspace is closed. Despite the massive cancellations, nearly 220,000 passengers managed to travel during the period of high tension. Authorities are monitoring the situation and flights will only resume normally once the affected airspace reopens.

Key Points: 5,500+ Flights Cancelled Due to West Asia Tensions

  • Over 4,300 Indian flights cancelled
  • Foreign airlines cancelled 1,187 flights
  • Safety cited as top priority
  • Nearly 220,000 passengers still travelled
2 min read

Over 4,300 Indian flights cancelled amid West Asia crisis: Govt

Indian aviation minister reports over 4,300 Indian and 1,100 foreign flights cancelled. Safety is priority as conflict closes airspace.

"If the airspace itself is closed, there is no need for us to operate in this area. - Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu"

New Delhi, March 16

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Monday informed the Lok Sabha that thousands of flights have been cancelled by Indian and foreign airlines due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Speaking during the sixth day of the ongoing Parliamentary Budget Session, the minister said that Indian carriers have cancelled more than 4,335 flights while foreign airlines cancelled up to 1,187 flights because of the crisis in the region.

Naidu said that passenger safety remains the top priority for the government and airlines.

He explained that flights cannot operate when the airspace in conflict-affected areas is closed.

"Indian carriers have cancelled 4,335 flights and foreign carriers have cancelled up to 1,187 flights. The first thing we have to remember is safety. If the airspace itself is closed, there is no need for us to operate in this area," he said.

Despite the disruption caused by the situation in West Asia, the minister said that a large number of people have still travelled during this period.

"Nearly 2,19,780 passengers travelled during the time when tensions were high in the region," he stated.

Naidu also said that India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the aviation ministry are in constant contact with authorities in the affected regions to monitor the situation.

He added that flights will resume normally only when the airspace in those areas reopens, noting that several regions are still facing restrictions due to the ongoing tensions.

Meanwhile, last week, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that India currently has more than 11,000 pilots working with major domestic airlines, with nearly 1,900 of them being women.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on March 12, Mohol stated that Indian airlines together employ 11,394 pilots, including 1,871 female pilots.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Over 4000 flights cancelled is a massive number! The economic impact on airlines and passengers must be huge. While safety is paramount, the government should also work on better contingency plans and communication for affected travellers. The refund process is often a nightmare.
D
David E
Interesting to see the data on pilots at the end. Nearly 1900 women pilots is a positive sign for the industry's diversity. On the main issue, it's a stark reminder of how regional conflicts have global ripple effects, even on our travel plans here in India.
A
Aditya G
This is the right call. You cannot play with people's lives. Jai Hind to our aviation authorities for putting safety above all. My prayers are with all those affected by the tensions in West Asia. Hope for peace and normalcy.
S
Sneha F
It's good that the minister is being transparent with the numbers in Parliament. But what about compensation for passengers? Airlines are quick to cancel but very slow to process refunds or offer proper alternatives. That needs to be addressed.
K
Karthik V
The fact that nearly 2.2 lakh people still travelled shows the resilience! But seriously, this highlights our dependence on that air corridor. Maybe time to invest more in direct flights that use alternative routes, even if longer, to build some resilience?

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