Lok Sabha Question No. 6345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Impact of West Asian Conflict on Indian Air Services
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 6345

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  2nd April 2026 )

## IMPACT OF WEST ASIAN CONFLICT ON INDIAN AIR SERVICES

## 6345.    SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a)  whether the Government has assessed the impact of ongoing conflicts in West Asia on Indian flight operations over affected airspaces including the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining regions and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  Indian  carriers  have  rerouted  flights  to  avoid  airspace  over  Iran,  Iraq  and surrounding conflict zones and if so, the details of the operational and financial implications thereof;

(c) whether it is true that flight durations and fuel costs for long-haul routes to Europe and North America have increased due to mandatory diversions and if so, the estimated additional burden on airlines;

(d)  whether  airfare  for  passengers  travelling  to  Gulf  countries  has  increased  following airspace restrictions and if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken to prevent unreasonable fare escalation; and

(e)  whether  the  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  has  issued  fresh  safety advisories to airlines in view of missile and drone threats in West Asian air corridors and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri  Murlidhar Mohol)

(a)  to  (e):  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA) has issued multiple advisories to address and ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft evolving from the risks arising from  the  West  Asia  conflict.  These  advisories  provide  operational  guidance  on  affected airspace, including NOTAM, identification of high-risk areas, FIR boundaries, and impacted countries, enabling operators to plan safe routing after conducting comprehensive Safety Risk Assessments.

Due to prevailing airspace restrictions, flights to Europe and North America are operating on longer  alternate  routes,  leading  to  increased  flight  durations  and  higher  fuel  consumption. This has resulted in additional operational costs for airlines, the extent of which depend upon specific  route,  duration  of  diversion,  and  prevailing  fuel  prices.  Further,  as  informed  by

Indian  carriers,  they  are  incurring  significant  revenue  losses  due  to  the  ongoing  crisis. Airlines  are,  however,  taking  necessary  measures  to  mitigate  the  impact  while  ensuring continuity of operations.

Airfares are market-driven, and under Rule 135(1) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, airlines are free to fix tariffs based on factors such as operational costs, service characteristics, prevailing tariffs, demand, seasonality, prevailing international scenarios and other market forces. The airline fare system operates through multiple levels (fare buckets), where prices rise as lower fare  categories  are  sold  out  with  increasing  demand.  The  DGCA's  Tariff  Monitoring  Unit (TMU) monitors to ensure that airlines adhere to their established tariffs.

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