India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued an advisory to airlines to avoid specific parts of the Gulf airspace due to escalating tensions in West Asia. The regulator has instructed carriers to develop contingency plans and implement alternate routing strategies to ensure safety amid shifting security risks.
This move impacts major air corridors connecting India to Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Air India has already started rerouting flights to bypass restricted zones over Iran and Iraq, which has resulted in increased flying times. To manage these operational delays, the DGCA has provided a temporary relaxation in flight duty time limitations for crew members.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the government is coordinating with international regulators to minimize travel disruptions and maintained that passenger safety remains the top priority during this conflict. (TNIE)
For more details: Navamalayalam.com