Flight Disruptions At Cochin Airport After Qatar Airspace Closure Amid Rising Tensions In West Asia

Several flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted at Cochin International Airport late Monday night after the closure of Qatar's airspace amid the rising tensions in the West Asia.

According to an airport spokesperson, an Air India Express flight that departed at 6.53 pm was diverted to Muscat. Air India's Doha-bound flight, scheduled to leave at 12.53 am Tuesday, was cancelled.

A Qatar Airways flight due to arrive in Cochin at 2.53 am has been delayed, affecting its return leg as well. An Air Arabia flight from Cochin to Abu Dhabi has also been delayed, the official said. An Etihad flight from Cochin to Abu Dhabi is returning to the airport, the official added.

"As a result of the ongoing situation in the Middle East and suspension of Qatar airspace, Air India Express has diverted our Doha-bound flight from Kochi to Muscat and returned our flight bound from Kannur," the airline said in a statement.

The airline said that it has no other flights bound for Qatar and no aircraft are on the ground in Qatar. "We are monitoring the situation closely and will take all necessary precautions for the safety and security of our guests and crew, with inputs from the relevant authorities," it added. Air India Express operates 25 weekly flights to Qatar's capital, Doha. It has direct services to Doha from Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchchirappalli.