MUMBAI: The American aviation regulator has prohibited US carriers from flying in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The ban on these airspaces would mean longer flying times for passengers booked on flights between India and the US on airlines like United Airways, Delta airlines.
The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation hasn’t issued an official ban yet. “No formal instructions have been issued to airlines yet,’’ said director general of civil aviation Arun Kumar. Speaking to TOI, Kumar said: “However we had held meetings with the concerned airlines and have sensitised them to remain vigilant and take all precautions,” he said.
With this ban, flights departing Mumbai, Delhi to New York would have to fly the Polar route or Pacific route or take the southern most routing that flies over south of Oman, Cairo. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate India-US flights. Currently Delta Airlines New York-Mumbai flight DL24 which departed US at 10 pm is over the Atlantic.
