Be prepared for longer and more expensive flights to Europe. Here’s why – Firstpost

Will Israel attack Iran in retaliation for Saturday’s attack? The fear of further war looms. You may be far removed from the tensions in West Asia, but they can affect your daily life. Travel plans may be affected and airfares may increase.

Several West Asian countries, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Kuwait, have temporarily closed their airspace after Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in a five-hour attack. became. Iran and Israel also imposed restrictions on air traffic. Although airspace is now open, airlines are reluctant to use this route as the region remains unstable. They are considering new options for operating between Asia and Europe.

Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel, here’s what you need to know when traveling abroad.

Airlines affected by Iran-Israel tensions

Air India has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, and other Indian airlines are also planning alternative flight routes to avoid Iranian airspace. The Tata Group-owned airline operates four weekly flights between New Delhi and cities in Israel. The move comes after India advised its citizens not to travel to Iran and Israel until further notice.

Air India, Vistara and IndiGo are avoiding Iranian airspace and choosing alternative routes for flights to the west.

A person familiar with the matter said IndiGo, which operates flights to Istanbul on aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines, was moving away from Iranian airspace. Vistara also made some changes to its flight route due to the situation in West Asia.

Australia’s Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa also decided to avoid the problematic space.

Days before the Iran attack, Lufthansa Group suspended flights to several cities in West Asia.The airline, which includes Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS, will resume flights to Tel Aviv, Amman and Ebril, Iraq, on Tuesday, but flights to Beirut and Tehran will be suspended until Thursday. It is reported that bloomberg.

Etihad Airways canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Amman on Sunday, and Emirates also canceled some flights. Qatar Airways and Emirates have resumed some of their suspended flights to West Asia after the airspace reopened.

Cathay Pacific is closely monitoring the situation in West Asia, but its operations remain normal, a spokeswoman said. bloomberg.

Impact on flight time and airfare

Iranian airspace is frequently used by airlines operating between Europe and India or Southeast Asia. Due to this change in destination, the flight time will be extended. This means more fuel is required to operate along these routes.

A great example of this is Qantas’ direct flight from Perth to London. The plane will now stop in Singapore to get the extra fuel it needs to reroute around the troubled area.

An Air India flight from Delhi to London did not fly over Iran on Saturday. The plane reportedly took a northern route over Russia, rather than the usual Black Sea route to Europe via India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. Times of India (TOI).

Lufthansa’s Frankfurt-Mumbai flight used the Greece-Zhonghai-Saudi Arabia-Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea route. Earlier, it was scheduled to fly over the Black Sea, Iran and Pakistan. This was announced by a spokesperson for the German airline. Toi“We will temporarily fly over Iranian airspace until April 18th. Security is our top priority.”

Airfares may also increase due to the need for additional fuel.

A senior aircraft pilot on an Indian aircraft carrier told a news agency. press trust of india The alternative route means longer flight times. Modifications to the flight path, chosen with safety and security in mind, added about 30 minutes to some flight times, the pilot said.

In such a scenario, operating costs will increase, fuel usage will increase, and more crew members may have to be tied up in flights due to duty-hour restrictions. Pilots say higher costs could also be passed on to passengers, meaning international airfares could rise.

Also read: How Iran’s attack on Israel could affect trade, oil prices and daily life

Recent air travel disruptions

Amid rising regional tensions, airspace across West Asia is facing risks. The past few months have been volatile for several countries, with fears of a broader conflict lingering since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.

In the early days of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, airlines faced major disruptions, primarily in Tel Aviv. Many airlines canceled domestic and international flights.

Air India suspended its Delhi-Tel Aviv route in October last year and resumed operations on March 3.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is also affecting air travel. After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, access to both airspaces was cut off, resulting in lengthy diversions that continue to this day. Most Western airlines do not fly over either country.

Also read: How the US, UK, France and Jordan rescued Israel during Iran attack

U.S. airlines have avoided Iran for some time, but some commercial airlines have not flown over Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country in August 2021.

Last August, the United States began relaxing rules that allow commercial airlines to fly over the country in an effort to cut east-west travel time and fuel consumption. However, airlines such as American Airlines and Air India remain reluctant.

Some go south through Iran and Pakistan.The other aircraft continued its flight after passing through Afghan airspace for just a few minutes while passing through the sparsely populated Wakhan Corridor, a narrow panhandle that juts out to the east of the country between Tajikistan and Pakistan. The report is reporting Associated Press.

But now, with tensions rising in West Asia, airlines face further disruption.

Based on opinions from agents