India aviation watchdog restricts West Asia flights
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)’s direction was contained in an advisory issued on Thursday
Amid escalating conflict in West Asia, India's aviation watchdog has asked airlines to avoid the airspaces of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)'s direction was contained in an advisory issued on Thursday.
It said Indian airlines can operate flights over Oman and Saudi Arabia airspaces not below 32,000 feet.
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About the nine restricted zones, the DGCA asked airlines to "refrain from operating within the affected airspace...at all flight levels and altitudes".
The advisory has come into effect immediately and will remain valid until March 28, unless reviewed earlier.
The DGCA said "recent military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against targets within Iranian territory have led to a high-risk environment for civil aviation. In response to these strikes, Iran has announced retaliatory measures. The evolving situation poses critical hazards to flight operations."
