Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that Indian airlines have cancelled 4,335 flights and foreign carriers 1,187 flights amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.
Naidu’s response comes to a supplementary query by CPI MP Sandosh Kumar P during the Question Hour.
“Regarding the cancellations that have happened because of airspace closure in West Asia, almost till now, in a cumulative, Indian carriers have cancelled up to 4,335 flights, and foreign carriers have cancelled up to 1,187 flights,” Naidu said.
Emphasizing that safety of operations remains the top priority during the crisis, the minister said there is no justification for flight operations in areas where the airspace has been shut.
Naidu said the Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are in constant communication with the regulators in those specific countries.
“Whenever there was a slot available for us to operate, we have operated. And I can tell you that almost 2,19,780 people have travelled during this crisis time also,” the Minister said.
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The Civil Aviation minister said that his department and the DGCA are maintaining continuous coordination with the aviation regulators in the concerned countries.
The Minister said, “Right now, there are still some airspace which is still closed, and we are trying to do our best to facilitate for them. But first and foremost, the airspace has to be open. It has to be safe to travel. Only then we can have the regular travel take place.”
He noted that some airspaces remain closed at present and efforts are underway to facilitate travel wherever possible. However, he stressed that regular flight operations can resume only after the airspace is reopened and it is confirmed safe for travel.
