New Delhi | With the Middle East tensions flaring up, Air India has temporarily suspended its Tel Aviv flights and airlines have charted alternative flight paths to avoid the Iranian airspace.
Longer flight paths will result in increased operational costs for the carriers, and the situation could also push airfares higher.
Air India, Vistara, IndiGo and some international airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace and have opted for alternative paths for their flights to the West.
A senior wide-body aircraft pilot at an Indian carrier told PTI that the alternative paths are increasing the flight duration.
With the revised flight paths chosen after taking safety and security into consideration, the duration of some flights has increased by around half an hour, the pilot said.
Such a scenario will result in higher operational costs, increased fuel usage and more crew members might have to be roped in for flights as there are duty time limitations.
The pilot also opined the rise in expenses could even be passed on to the passengers, which means that international airfares could rise.
Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel in a retaliatory attack.
Amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Air India on Sunday decided to temporarily suspend the flights to Tel Aviv from Delhi.
Air India operates four weekly flights between the national capital and Israeli city.
The Tata group-owned carrier recommenced services to Tel Aviv on March 3 after a gap of nearly five months.
Air India and Vistara have opted for alternative flight paths for their flights to the West.
An official in the know said that IndiGo, which operates flights to Istanbul with aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines, is avoiding the Iranian airspace.
Air India on Saturday said it was closely monitoring the Middle East situation and that its aircraft will operate on alternative flight paths to and from India.
On Saturday, Vistara said it is making changes to the flight paths of some of the flights due to the situation in the Middle East.
On Sunday, India said it is concerned over escalating hostilities between the two sides that threaten regional peace and security.
Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1, in which seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, including two generals, were killed.
New Delhi | After Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel by firing hundreds of drones and missiles triggering spectre of a wider conflict, India on Sunday said it is seriously concerned over the escalating hostilities between the two sides and called for immediate halt to violence and return to the path of diplomacy.
Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards including two generals.
In its reaction, India called for immediate de-escalation of the situation and said that its embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community in the region.
Iran's unprecedented attacks drew international condemnation and anguish with many global leaders calling for restraint by both Iran and Israel.
"We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
"We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy," it said.
Later, in a post on X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday evening.
"Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy," he said, ading that India and Iran have agreed to "remain in touch".
The MEA said India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia.
"We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Our Embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community," it said in a statement.
"It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region," it added.
Hours after Iran's attack on Israel, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said Tehran has no intention of continuing the operation against Israel, and the operation has been concluded, according to Iranian news agency IRNA.
On Saturday, the Iranian military seized a cargo ship with Israeli links near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship has 17 Indian crew members.
India is in touch with Iran to secure the release of Indians onboard the Portuguese-flagged vessel 'MSC Aries'.
With escalation of tensions in West Asia, India on Friday asked its citizens not to travel to Iran and Israel.
It is learnt that New Delhi is looking at various contingencies including possible evacuation of the Indians from the two countries if the overall situation deteriorates.
At present, around 4,000 Indians are residing in Iran while the number in Israel is nearly 18,500, according to official estimates.
Following Iran's attack, the Israeli military said it and its allies have intercepted the majority of more than 300 drones and missiles fired by Iran.
US President Joe Biden said the American military helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles launched by Iran.
"Earlier today, Iran and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq, launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms," he said in a statement.
"At my direction, to support the defence of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week," Biden said.
"Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," he said.
The US president also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to the security of Israel.
"Tomorrow, I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran's brazen attack. My team will engage with their counterparts across the region," Biden said.
"And we will stay in close touch with Israel's leaders. And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people," he said.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned Iran's attack on Israel.
"I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Guterres also called for an immediate cessation of the hostilities.
"I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East," he said.
On Saturday, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar spoke to his British counterpart David Cameron and discussed the emerging situation in West Asia.
New Delhi | External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and sought the release of 17 Indian nationals onboard a Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel.
On the Iran-Israel hostilities, Jaishankar, during the phone conversation, called for avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to the path of diplomacy.
India has been in touch with Iran to secure the release of the Indians onboard container ship MSC Aries that was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
"Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries," Jaishankar said on 'X'.
"Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch," he said.
Special Naval Forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) seized 'MSC Aries' reportedly in view of its links with Israel.
The MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) said it is working closely with relevant authorities for the well-being of 25 crew members and the return of the vessel.
Hours after the Iranian action, White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the ship's crew comprised of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals.
In his phone conversation with Amir-Abdollahian, Jaishankar is understood to have discussed the hostilities between Iran and Israel.
On early Sunday, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel by firing hundreds of drones and missiles in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards including two generals.
In its reaction, India called for immediate de-escalation of the situation and said that its embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community in the region.
"We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
"We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy," it said.
The MEA said India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia.
"We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Our Embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community," the MEA said in a statement.
"It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region," it added.