Mumbai: Air India issued a travel advisory on Friday morning, announcing the diversion and return of 16 of its international flights in response to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and the closure of Iranian airspace. The advisory stated that passenger safety remains the airline’s top priority amid this sudden geopolitical crisis.
In a detailed update posted on social media, Air India listed the affected flights and the alternate destinations to which they were rerouted. Several flights from Delhi, Toronto and other international locations were either rerouted or forced to return, majorly disrupting operations across multiple routes.
Full List Of Diverted Flights:
AI130 – London Heathrow-Mumbai – Diverted to Vienna
AI102 – New York-Delhi – Diverted to Sharjah
AI116 – New York-Mumbai – Diverted to Jeddah
AI2018 – London Heathrow-Delhi – Diverted to Mumbai
AI129 – Mumbai-London Heathrow – Returning to Mumbai
AI119 – Mumbai-New York – Returning to Mumbai
AI103 – Delhi-Washington – Returning to Delhi
AI106 – Newark-Delhi – Returning to Delhi
AI188 – Vancouver-Delhi – Diverting to Jeddah
AI101 – Delhi-New York – Diverting to Frankfurt/Milan
AI126 – Chicago-Delhi – Diverting to Jeddah
AI132 – London Heathrow-Bengaluru – Diverted to Sharjah
AI2016 – London Heathrow-Delhi – Diverted to Vienna
AI104 – Washington-Delhi – Diverted to Vienna
AI190 – Toronto-Delhi – Diverted to Frankfurt
AI189 – Delhi-Toronto – Returning to Delhi
Rescheduling & Refunds Offered To Affected Flyers
The airline acknowledged the inconvenience caused to flyers and assured them that measures were being taken to reduce the impact of the disruption. Passengers were offered complimentary rescheduling or full refunds.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption and are making every effort to minimise it, including providing accommodation for passengers,” Air India stated. The airline also advised all affected flyers to stay updated via the official flight status page linked in their announcement: https://www.airindia.com/in/en/manage/flight-status.html
Israel Launches Strikes On Iran
This massive operational shake-up comes in the wake of a major military escalation in the Middle East. In the early hours of Friday, Israel carried out targeted airstrikes against Iranian facilities, further intensifying the already fragile relationship between the two nations. The strikes were reportedly a direct response to growing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its perceived threat to Israel.
