In a statement released today, Air India announced that, in light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, it has ceased all flight operations in the region, as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe, with immediate effect and until further notice.

"Our direct flights to India from North America are being diverted back to their origin points, while others are being rerouted either to India or away from the closed airspaces. We ask for the understanding of all passengers who may be affected by this disruption, which is beyond our control", the statement reads.

Air India is in constant consultation with its external security advisors and is closely monitoring the situation as it develops. "We will keep our passengers informed of any updates. The safety of our passengers and staff remains our number one priority", the airline’s note concludes. Whether for security reasons or internal reorganization aimed at operational stability, the carrier has recently shown to be prone to variations in its network operations. For more details, see the AVIONEWS and related links.