India’s two largest private carriers IndiGo and Air India suspended flights to all destinations in the Middle East on Saturday after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran. “In view of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East, all Air India flights to all destinations in the Middle East have been suspended,” Air India said in a statement posted on X.
IndiGo said it was also suspending flights temporarily in view of the safety and security of customers and crew. “Our teams are continuously monitoring the evolving situation and recalibrating operations to minimise disruption as much as possible,” the carrier said on X. New Delhi has historically balanced its ties with Israel while engaging widely with other Gulf nations, home to millions of Indian migrants.
The region is also a critical source of energy for the world’s fastest growing major economy. The strikes on Iran come just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home after a landmark visit to Israel, where the two sides took steps at deepening trade and defence ties. The right-wing Hindu nationalist premier also addressed Israeli lawmakers and said New Delhi stands “firmly” with Israel following Hamas’s deadly attack on October 7, 2023.
India, the world’s most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, is majority Hindu, but an estimated 220 million Indians are Muslim. It also maintains strong relations with Tehran, including developing its Chabahar port — a trade gateway to Afghanistan, where New Delhi has built a relationship with Taliban authorities.
