Ahmedabad: Air travellers in Gujarat faced a spate of disruptions on Monday as multiple international flights to and from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad were either delayed or cancelled due to the closure of airspace in parts of the Middle East.Several departures to key Gulf destinations, including Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Kuwait City, were delayed by several hours. One flight each departing from the city airport to Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City was cancelled entirely. Additionally, inbound flights from Abu Dhabi (two), Dubai, and Sharjah also experienced extended delays, with one Abu Dhabi-bound arrival cancelled. These flights were delayed anywhere between 45 minutes to three hours.The disruptions come amid ongoing airspace restrictions in certain Middle Eastern regions, reportedly due to security concerns. Airlines operating on these routes have had to adjust their flight paths or cancel operations altogether. In an official advisory, the SVPI airport operator stated, “Due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East, flight operations from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport have been impacted. Passengers are requested to check with their respective airlines on the status of their flights before arriving at the airport.”With several Gulf nations serving as key hubs for onward international connections and hosting large Gujarati diaspora populations, such disruptions have left hundreds of passengers stranded or forced to reschedule travel plans. Several airlines operating along the route have issued travel advisories urging passengers to check their flight status before leaving.“The flight operations into, out of, and through the Gulf countries have stabilised and are operating as scheduled. However, as airspace over Iran remains restricted, some flights may take alternate routes, which could result in longer travel times. We recommend keeping a close watch on your flight status for the latest updates,” said IndiGo airlines on its social media handle.“Due to the recent regional situation, a number of Emirates flights were rerouted en route to Dubai on June 23, but there were no diversions. After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas. Some flights may incur delays due to longer re-routings or airspace congestion, but Emirates’ teams are working hard to keep to schedule and minimise any disruption or inconvenience to our customers. We advise all customers to check flight status before proceeding to the airport,” states an advisory by Emirates.
