Updated Jan 15, 2026, 10:41 AM IST: Iran briefly shut its airspace early Thursday in response to escalating military tensions linked to nationwide protests, forcing airlines to reroute flights and causing delays on international routes connecting India with West Asia and Europe.

Officials said the Delhi Area Control Centre (ACC) was informed of the closure by Lahore ACC (OPLA), citing military escalation as the reason. During the shutdown, only international flights arriving into or departing from Iran with prior permission from the Iran Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were allowed.

The closure, which was first flagged around 3:12 IST, affected flights using air traffic service route G452, a key corridor for north and west India-bound traffic towards Iran, the Gulf, Turkey, and Europe. This route is preferred for its shorter distance and fuel efficiency. Flights were rerouted through Pakistan’s airspace to avoid Iranian airspace.

By 3:45 IST, a Mahan Air flight (IRM086) from China to Tehran was already on the route and was handed over to Lahore ATC. Other affected flights had to be diverted or rescheduled, increasing congestion and requiring rapid coordination among neighboring FIRs.

Iran reopened its airspace by 7:03 IST, issuing a NOTAM confirming the resumption of normal flight operations in the Tehran FIR.

Impact on Airlines:

• Air India acknowledged the disruption, stating flights overflying Iran were rerouted, causing delays, while some flights were cancelled.
• The airline emphasized that passenger and crew safety was the top priority and regretted the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen disruption.

This temporary closure highlighted the vulnerability of international air traffic to sudden geopolitical developments, particularly on strategically important corridors like G452.