Although most Gulf airspace has reopened, an Economic Times Infra review published 14 July finds that more than a dozen global carriers—including Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada—continue to suspend or limit flights on key Middle-East sectors until at least September amid renewed US–Iran tensions. For Indian passengers the knock-on effect is two-fold. First, one-stop itineraries to Europe and North America that connect via hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Riyadh remain vulnerable to last-minute changes. Second, detours add up to 45 minutes of block time and increase fuel surcharges, eroding cost savings that companies traditionally realise by routing staff through the Gulf. While some airlines—Air France, Turkish Airlines’ SunExpress and Delta (from September)—have resumed selected services, frequencies remain below 2025 levels. Analysts say capacity could tighten further if negotiations over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz break down, as airlines reassess over-flight risk daily. Travel security teams should therefore keep monitoring advisories, build buffer days into project timelines and consider direct India-Europe services where budgets allow. Freight forwarders are equally exposed: lower belly-hold capacity through Gulf hubs is already nudging up rates for time-critical spare parts and pharmaceutical consignments. The situation underlines the importance of dynamic air-risk management in mobility programmes. Companies should ensure that duty-of-care platforms capture real-time flight status and geopolitical alerts so that relocating employees and business travellers receive rapid re-routing assistance if further airspace closures occur.
Source: Economic Times Infra
