India Begins Evacuation of Nationals from Iran Amid Regional Tensions
India has started taking concrete steps to evacuate its citizens from Iran. This move comes as tensions rise in West Asia following Iran's temporary closure of its airspace to commercial flights. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed these preparations on Thursday.
There are approximately 10,000 Indian nationals currently in Iran. This diverse group includes students studying in medical colleges across Tehran and Isfahan. Pilgrims and seminary students in the holy cities of Qom and Mashaad are also among those affected.
Evacuation Plans Take Shape
The Indian embassy in Tehran has already collected passport details from many registered students. Authorities have instructed the first batch of students to remain ready for evacuation by 8 am on Friday. The embassy maintains constant communication with university authorities and students throughout Iran.
Indian officials are coordinating the evacuation process in close liaison with embassy staff. They expect to bring back all students through special flights in the coming days. The embassy has established emergency contact helplines and an email address for assistance.
Airlines Face Operational Challenges
Indian airlines Air India and IndiGo are currently avoiding Iranian airspace entirely. This decision significantly impacts their flight operations to several key regions. Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, and North America face the brunt of these disruptions.
Air India has shifted to using Iraqi airspace for flights that normally overfly Iran. This rerouting adds approximately one hour of extra flying time for North America-bound flights taking westward routes. The airline must reduce passenger capacity on these flights to accommodate additional fuel requirements.
Flight Cancellations and Delays Mount
IndiGo faces different operational challenges. The airline does not operate flights to North America, but its services to CIS countries, Turkey, and Europe experience substantial impacts. Longer flying times and multiple cancellations have already occurred.
If IndiGo continues avoiding Iranian airspace completely, flights to CIS nations like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan may require refuelling stops in third countries. The new flight paths exceed the range limitations of IndiGo's Airbus A320 aircraft fleet.
Thursday's Airspace Closure Creates Chaos
Iran's sudden four-hour airspace closure early Thursday caused widespread disruption. International carriers diverted flights north and south around Iranian territory. Several domestic Iranian flights resumed just after 7 am following the closure expiration.
Air India called back three US-bound flights during the closure period. These included services from Delhi to New York, Delhi to Newark, and Mumbai to New York. A separate incident occurred when an Air India aircraft ingested a cargo container upon returning to Delhi, causing substantial engine damage.
Most IndiGo flights to and from CIS countries faced cancellations for Thursday and Friday. Flights to Istanbul and Europe experienced significant delays as aircraft took longer routes skirting Iranian airspace.
Ongoing Uncertainty for Airlines
Although Iran reopened its airspace after several hours, both Air India and IndiGo continue avoiding the region. Industry sources cite the unpredictable security situation as the primary reason. Both airlines evaluate conditions daily to ensure passenger safety.
Air India issued a passenger advisory explaining that flights are using alternative routing, which may cause delays. Some flights where rerouting proves impossible face cancellation. IndiGo similarly acknowledged impacts on international flights and promised support for affected customers.
The situation remains fluid as Indian authorities balance evacuation needs with airline operational challenges. The combination of Pakistan's existing airspace ban and potential Iranian airspace instability creates compounded difficulties for Indian aviation.
