Interglobe Aviation announced on Tuesday the cancellation of its flights to four international destinations till February 11, citing escalating regional tensions and prioritizing passenger safety. The airline has suspended operations to Tbilisi, Almaty, Tashkent and Baku as a precautionary measure amid developments around Iran.

Safety-First Approach Amid Regional Tensions

The airline emphasized its commitment to passenger and crew safety in its official statement. "Taking into account developments around Iran, we have made additional adjustments to the schedule of some flights. We are taking a cautious and proactive approach, with customer and crew safety as our highest priority," IndiGo said.

Operational Challenges and Airspace Concerns

According to airline officials, IndiGo's flights to these destinations usually pass through Iranian airspace, which the carrier is currently avoiding due to the evolving security situation. While alternative routes remain available, they involve significantly longer flying times and higher fuel consumption, making operations commercially challenging.

The airline confirmed that flight operations remain under continuous review, with any further updates or changes to be communicated to passengers in a timely manner. IndiGo posted on social media platform X, stating: "We remain vigilant to developments in the region around Iran and are proactively reviewing flight operations, with safety being our highest priority."

Passenger Advisory and Support Measures

IndiGo has advised affected passengers to regularly monitor their flight status and explore alternative options through the airline's website. The carrier acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed appreciation for passenger patience and understanding during this period.

Key passenger guidelines include:

• Regular flight status checks recommended
• Alternative booking options available through website
• Phased approach to flight changes and cancellations
• Regular updates to minimize customer inconvenience

Broader Geopolitical Context

The flight cancellations come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, with concerns about potential military escalation. US President Trump recently stated that the United States is closely monitoring Iran as a "massive fleet" of naval forces moves toward the Gulf region. Speaking to reporters after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump described the significant naval deployment as intended to maintain pressure on Iran's leadership while expressing preference to avoid conflict.

Interglobe Aviation 's IndiGo made aviation history on January 23 by launching India's first direct flights to Greece, connecting Mumbai with Athens using the country's first Airbus A321XLR aircraft. This milestone marks IndiGo's entry into narrow-body long-haul operations and establishes the airline as the pioneer in India-Greece air connectivity.

Route Operations and Aircraft Deployment

The new service operates with strategic frequency and advanced aircraft technology:

The deployment of India's first Airbus A321XLR aircraft represents a significant technological advancement for IndiGo's fleet, enabling efficient long-haul operations on routes previously requiring wide-body aircraft.

Strategic Codeshare Partnership

IndiGo has activated a bilateral codeshare partnership with Greece-based carrier AEGEAN, expanding connectivity options for passengers from both networks. Under this arrangement, IndiGo places its 6E code on more than 10 European destinations operated by AEGEAN, including cities in Italy, Spain, and Bulgaria.

AEGEAN passengers gain access to over 10 destinations on IndiGo's network via Delhi and Mumbai, including:

• Bengaluru
• Chennai
• Bangkok
• Hong Kong
• Colombo

Market Positioning and Tourism Potential

Athens is expected to attract Indian travelers across multiple segments, including leisure tourism, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), and wedding tourism. The new routes from Mumbai and Delhi are strategically designed to cater to this diverse demand while expanding IndiGo's European network presence.

Customers from Greece will gain direct access to India's two largest metropolitan cities, along with seamless onward connectivity to IndiGo's extensive domestic and Asian network.

Leadership Commentary

IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers highlighted the significance of the Athens route as the airline's first international service operated using the Airbus A321XLR. He emphasized that the flights, supported by the codeshare partnership with AEGEAN, are expected to enhance connectivity between India, Greece, and other European destinations.

Yiannis Paraschis, Managing Director and CEO of Athens International Airport, noted that January 23 marks the first scheduled direct air service between India and Greece. He expressed expectations that the launch of direct flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai with Athens will support tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.