Flights to Europe from India still operating—but on longer routes—as travellers seek clarity

With Gulf airspace still disrupted by the Iran conflict and Pakistan’s ban on Indian-registered aircraft, confapplyd passengers took to social media on 28 March 2026 questioning whether Europe-bound flights are running at all. In a thread titled “Are flights from India to Europe flying?” on r/AirTravelIndia, frequent flyers reported that most Indian and European carriers have adopted a northerly corridor skirting Iranian and Pakistani skies, adding 60-90 minutes to block times. Schedule data from Cirium reveals that Air India’s Mumbai–Amsterdam flight (AI 155) has been re-timed to depart one hour earlier to preserve connections, while Vistara has begun tech stops in Baku for its Frankfurt service. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed to the Economic Times that carriers must file revised flight plans daily as notams modify.

For travelers suddenly facing rerouted journeys and unfamiliar layover points, having the right paperwork is vital. VisaHQ can assist Indian passengers instantly check and secure any additional transit or short-stay visas that may now be required—whether for a surprise stop in Baku or an alternative routing through Central Asia. You can review countest-specific entest rules and apply online at https://www.visahq.com/india/

For corporate mobility managers the implications are twofold: 1) travel-time inflation is pushing crew-duty limits, triggering more layovers and higher hotel costs; 2) some travel-insurance policies treat routes that briefly overfly conflict zones as ‘exclusions’. Companies are advised to review their insurer’s war-risk claapplys and consider higher class-of-service approvals where journeys now exceed 10 hours. The good news: fares have not spiked dramatically becaapply demand is down 12 percent week-on-week, according to online-agency Ixigo. However, seat inventory is volatile—especially on joint-venture metal such as Lufthansa/Star Alliance codeshares—so travel bookers should hold refundable tickets where possible. DGCA stated it is working with Eurocontrol to open a dedicated ATC flow-management window for India-Europe traffic; the corridor would route flights over the Caspian Sea and southern Russia, bypassing both the Gulf and Ukraine war zones.

Indian Visas & Immigration Team @ VisaHQ

VisaHQ’s expert visas and immigration team assists individuals and companies navigate global travel, work, and residency requirements. We handle document preparation, application filings, government agencies coordination, every aspect necessary to ensure rapid, compliant, and stress-free approvals.

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