IndiGo suspends flights to Tbilisi, Almaty, and Tashkent amid Iran security crisis

New Delhi: IndiGo has suspended all flights to several Central Asian and Caucasian destinations through Jan 28, citing the volatile security situation in Iran and the resulting risks to commercial aviation.

The airline confirmed Sunday that it is cancelling service to and from Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Baku (Azerbaijan) for a three-day period beginning Jan 26.

“We remain vigilant to developments in the region around Iran and are proactively reviewing flight operations, with safety being our highest priority,” the airline stated in a social media post.

The decision is driven primarily by technical constraints. While most flights from India to these cities typically take between six and seven hours, they rely on transit through Iranian airspace. An airline official noted that IndiGo’s fleet of Airbus A320neo aircraft lacks the fuel capacity and range required to bypass Iran via longer alternative routes.

The suspension has already impacted major routes, with the carrier cancelling Sunday's scheduled flights between Delhi and Tbilisi as well as Mumbai and Almaty.

The move comes amid heightened fears of a direct military conflict between the United States and Iran. Regional tensions have reached a fever pitch following a lethal crackdown on internal dissent in Iran and the subsequent deployment of a massive US naval "armada" to the region. European aviation regulators have already advised carriers to avoid the area, warning of an increased risk of misidentification by air defence systems.

IndiGo advised affected passengers to seek full refunds or explore alternative travel options through the airline's website.

With inputs from PTI