New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Monday informed the Lok Sabha that more than 4,300 flights operated by Indian airlines have been cancelled due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which has disrupted international air routes and airspace access.

Addressing the House during the sixth day of the Parliamentary Budget Session, the minister said Indian carriers cancelled 4,335 flights, while foreign airlines suspended 1,187 flights as several air corridors in the conflict-affected region remain closed.

Kinjarapu emphasised that passenger safety remains the top priority for both the government and airlines operating international routes.

“Indian carriers have cancelled 4,335 flights, and foreign carriers have cancelled up to 1,187 flights. The first thing we have to remember is safety. If the airspace itself is closed, there is no need for us to operate in this area,” the minister told members of Parliament.

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The large number of flight cancellations linked to the West Asia crisis has affected several international routes used by Indian carriers. However, the minister noted that air travel continued despite the disruption.

According to the government, around 2,19,780 passengers travelled during the period of heightened tensions, indicating that many routes remained operational even as certain airspaces were restricted.

Kinjarapu also said India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with the Civil Aviation Ministry, is maintaining constant coordination with authorities in affected regions to monitor the evolving situation.

He added that normal flight operations will resume only after restricted airspace in the region reopens, noting that several parts of West Asia continue to face aviation restrictions due to the ongoing crisis.

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Meanwhile, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed Parliament last week that India’s aviation sector currently employs over 11,000 pilots across major domestic airlines, including a significant number of women.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on March 12, Mohol said Indian airlines collectively employ 11,394 pilots, of whom 1,871 are women, highlighting the growing presence of female professionals in India’s aviation workforce.

IANS