indica News Bureau-
The US Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) eased the ban on American airlines flying over the Iranian and Iraqi airspaces as well the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The American aviation regulator has now permitted American airlines to fly in and out of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah.
The FAA Notam read, “American airlines) are prohibited from operating in the overwater airspace above The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, except… operations conducted into and out of the airports (in) Bahrain, Emirates, and Muscat flight information regions (FIR) are permitted… For operations conducted into and out of Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Muscat, operators must be on a published instrument procedure or under the direction of air traffic control, minimize overwater operations to the maximum extent possible, and are prohibited from entering the Tehran FIR”.
However, Indian authorities are still reviewing the scenario. The DGCA had asked all the Indian airlines to “reroute their flights (from affected airspaces) to ensure complete safety of passengers”. This announcement came after the USFAA prohibited their airlines to fly over the Gulf region and Iranian and Iraqi airspaces.
According to a report of Times of India, the sources suggest that India may allow its flights to go into Iranian airspace.
Aviation authorities here are closely watching the situation and could soon resume their pre-Wednesday routes between India and the west.
If the situation between Iran and US does not heat up, Indian airlines may resume flying there in a day or two, say sources.
Post the release of the FAA Notam on Wednesday, Air India had stopped its flights between India and the west in the Iranian airspace. The flying time from Delhi to Air India’s western locations has spiked by 20 minutes whereas, from Mumbai and southern cities, this time has increased by 40 minutes.
According to sources, the relations between India and Iran are friendly. The Iranian airspace is being avoided completely as of now as a precautionary measure post the FAA’s Notam.