New Delhi: Flag carrier Air India announced on Wednesday that it has extended the suspension of its flight operations on the Tel Aviv-Delhi route until the end of September. The decision comes as regional security conditions continue to deteriorate amidst intensified military hostilities in West Asia, forcing international aviation operators to continually reassess passenger safety and route viability.
The national airline has repeatedly postponed the resumption of its direct connectivity between India and Israel over the past several months in response to volatile geopolitical developments. This latest operational delay follows a severe escalation in armed conflict over the last ten days, characterized by direct military engagements between American and Iranian forces. Recent intelligence and news reports indicate that United States forces targeted critical infrastructure within Iran, including bridges, water desalination facilities, and electrical power networks. In retaliation, Iranian forces launched strikes against American military bases situated across allied nations throughout the West Asian region.
A senior Air India executive managing the carrier’s Israeli operations confirmed to reporters that services will remain completely put on hold through late September due to unmitigated safety concerns. Major global aviation companies are adopting a similar cautious, “wait-and-watch” posture, leading to a drastic reduction in commercial airspace traffic over the Middle East. Outside of local Israeli carriers such as El Al, IsraAir, Arkia, and Air Haifa, very few international commercial airlines continue to run scheduled flights into Ben Gurion Airport. This widespread reduction in air travel options has created formidable logistical obstacles for individuals seeking transit for professional duties, family emergencies, or personal travel.
The origin of the current disruption traces back to late February, when direct combat between Iran and the United States first broke out. Following the initial outbreak, Air India suspended its Tel Aviv route in April, initially aiming for a resumption by late May. However, as conflict conditions persisted, the suspension was pushed to the end of July, and now further postponed into late autumn.
The prolonged absence of direct flight connections has raised severe concerns for more than 40,000 Indian citizens currently residing, working, or studying in Israel. Many members of the Indian diaspora have expressed growing anxieties over their inability to return home easily, manage overseas business responsibilities, or relocate away from volatile border regions as security uncertainties escalate across the region.
