Iran Airspace Shutdown Sparks Air India Delays & Cancellations Amid US Strike Fears and Anti-Regime Protests
Iran reopened its airspace early Thursday after its operations were shuttered temporarily, limiting most incoming and outgoing flights for several hours, as it worried the United States might launch military attacks.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) January 15: Iran reopened its airspace early Thursday after an earlier temporary shutdown that denied most incoming and outgoing flights for a few hours over concerns the U.S. might conduct military strikes, elevating risks for airlines.
Air India Reroutes Flights, Cancels Others Over Iran Risks
Due to closure of Iran’s airspace and anti-government protest over the economic crisis, Air India stated in a statement on Thursday that flights overflying Iran will be delayed as they are using an alternative route.
Air India said that some flights which currently cannot be re-routed are being cancelled. It has asked passengers to look at Air India’s website for their flights status.
“Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, Air India flights overflying the region are now using an alternative routing, which may lead to delays,” the airline said.
India Gears Up for Evacuation of Nationals from Protest-Hit Iran
Preparations are said to be underway to evacuate Indians from protest-hit Iran, even as the specter of a U.S. military intervention casts a harsh look on Tehran against the backdrop of a brutal crackdown across the country following protests that began last month.
Based on the developments in Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs is preparing to arrange the return of Indian nationals wishing to return to India. There is also still no official indication of when evacuations will commence.
However on Thursday J&K Students' Association announced the first group of stranded students from Iran will reportedly return to India on Friday.
Global Airlines Dodge Iran-Iraq Skies Amid Escalating Tensions
Iran abruptly restricted commercial flights without explanation early on Thursday after tensions continued to rise with the US. The closure took nearly five hours. Even more striking is that European airlines are said to have been evading airspace above Iran and Iraq since the airspace was reopened.
In addition, the airspace closure occurred coincidentally to the US's reported withdrawal of some personnel from bases in the Middle East. A senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that if Washington strikes, Tehran had advised its neighbors that it would hit American bases and troops were being moved to do so.
Protests Evolve from Economic Woes to Anti-Khamenei Uprising
The protests against the Iranian regime, which began in December 2025 and first arose as a response to their struggling economy, have become more political as a whole, boiling into a nationwide uprising that has escalated to international tensions too.
With the world fixated on potential military intervention by President Donald Trump’s leadership of the U.S. administration, Tehran was reportedly also preparing to retaliate.
Protests against a slowing economy had proliferated across Iran since December 28, and the protests quickly spilled over into politics, as protesters demanded the end of clerical rule under the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
