Rethinking your travel plans due to the Iran–US conflict? You are not alone
Rising Iran-US tensions are disrupting flight routes and raising fares for Indian travellers. The changes are pushing passengers towards flexible bookings and alternative destinations.
If your summer itinerary suddenly feels uncertain or significantly more expensive, you’re not alone.
As tensions simmer between the US and Iran, the ripple effects are being felt far beyond geopolitics. For Indian travellers, it’s showing up in the most immediate way possible: longer routes, pricier tickets, and a growing sense of unpredictability.
Why your flight may no longer take the same route
The biggest disruption isn’t visible on your ticket, it’s in the airspace your flight can no longer use.
Airlines operating between India and long-haul destinations like Europe, the UK, and North America often rely on West Asian air corridors, some of the busiest and most efficient in global aviation. But with the current geopolitical tensions, airlines are increasingly avoiding sensitive or restricted airspaces, opting for longer, more circuitous routes.
This means:
- Extended flight durations
- Higher fuel burn
- Operational complexity for airlines
- And inevitably, higher fares for passengers.
As per inputs from Aircruise Travels Pvt Ltd, routes connecting India to Europe, the UK, and parts of North America are currently the most impacted, particularly those that traditionally pass through or near West Asian airspace. Transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi are also seeing operational adjustments.
Ticket prices are climbing — and not just because of demand
The fare surge isn’t incidental. “Airfares to key European destinations have increased by approximately 20–25%, while routes to the US are seeing a sharper uptick of 25–30%,” says Bharatt Malik, Senior VP- Flights and Hotel Business, Yatra Online Limited.
He adds that even relatively stable corridors are seeing some pressure, with short-haul destinations like Southeast Asia witnessing increases of 5–12%.
There are multiple reasons behind this:
- Rerouting of flights, which increases flying time and fuel consumption
- Unprecedented surge in the ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices
- Peak summer demand, which was already pushing fares up
Together, they’re creating what travellers are now experiencing as a perfect storm.
Travellers are still flying, just more cautiously
Interestingly, the appetite to travel hasn’t disappeared. It’s just evolving. According to Malik, there has been a 20–25% rise in advance bookings, driven by peak summer travel. But at the same time, behaviour is shifting.
“Travellers are becoming more cautious. Many are adopting a wait-and-watch approach, opting for flexible or last-minute bookings, and in some cases rescheduling or rerouting their trips to avoid impacted regions,” he says.
In other words, people aren’t cancelling plans, they’re recalibrating them.
Where travellers are heading instead
With long-haul routes becoming more unpredictable and expensive, travellers are pivoting to destinations that feel simpler, closer, and more stable.
As per Punya Marwah, the current favourites include:
- Thailand
- Bali (Indonesia)
- Vietnam
- Georgia
- Maldives
There’s also growing interest in slightly farther but relatively stable routes like Japan and Australia, though these come with longer travel times and higher costs.
These destinations are benefiting from:
- Minimal airspace disruption
- Shorter flight durations
- More predictable pricing
So, which routes are actually affected?
In practical terms, here’s how it breaks down for Indian travellers:
Most affected
- India to Europe (via West Asia)
- India to UK
- India to North America (especially routes using Middle Eastern corridors)
Moderately affected
- India Middle East (due to operational adjustments at hubs)
Least affected (for now)
- India Southeast Asia
- India Indian Ocean destinations (Maldives, Sri Lanka)
Airlines are still operating, but often via longer alternate paths, sometimes adding anywhere between 30 minutes to a few hours to total travel time, depending on the route.
Industry insider advice
The advice from industry insiders is consistent:
- Book flexible tickets
- Track route changes
- Be open to alternative destinations
Because while the desire to travel remains unchanged, the way we get there is increasingly shaped by forces far beyond our control.