Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet face flight delays and cancellations as Iran closes airspace amid protests and rising US-Iran tensions.
New Delhi: Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet announced on Thursday that some of their foreign flights have been impacted when Iran closed its airspace due to widespread protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and rising tensions with the United States.
Air India posted on X (formerly Twitter) that flights overflying the region may experience delays or cancellations due to the closure of Iran’s airspace. The airline is prioritizing passenger safety by using an alternative routing, which may cause delays. Some Air India flights that cannot now be rerouted are being cancelled, according to the carrier.
Travel Advisory
Due to the sudden airspace closure by Iran, some of our international flights are impacted. Our teams are working diligently to assess the situation and support affected customers by offering the best possible alternatives.
This development is beyond our…
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 14, 2026
Air India advises travelers to check flight status before arriving at the airport. The airline prioritizes the safety of its passengers and workers.
IndiGo also stated in an early Thursday post that several of its overseas flights were “impacted” by Iran’s “sudden airspace closure”.
Our team is assessing the situation and offering best alternatives to affected customers. We apologize for any interruption this may have caused to their travel arrangements. If your flight is impacted, we advise you to visit our website to explore flexible rebooking alternatives or to request a refund, as you want,” it said.
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SpiceJet likewise provided a similar travel update, citing an airspace shutdown in Iran as the cause of the disruption.
Iran Closes its Airspace
Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights without explanation on Thursday, as tensions with the US remained high following Tehran’s crackdown on countrywide rallies. According to the Associated Press, a message to pilots indicated that the shutdown would extend until 7:30 a.m. local time.
Iran had closed its airspace during the 12-day war with Israel in June and during the Israel-Hamas conflict.Several airlines have already decreased or discontinued service, and the majority of companies are avoiding Iranian airspace, according to the website SafeAirspace, which provides information on conflict zones and air travel. “The situation may signal further security or military activity, including the risk of missile launches or heightened air defense, increasing the risk of misidentification of civil traffic.”
The Centre asks Indians to leave Iran and advises against travelling to the country.
As the security situation in Iran deteriorated further due to widespread anti-government protests and a crackdown on protestors, India on Wednesday ordered all of its people currently residing there to evacuate by any means possible.
“In view of the ongoing developments in Iran, Indian nationals are once again strongly advised to avoid travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice,” the notification stated.