New Delhi, 24 November 2025: Air travel across West Asia routes faced major disruption on Monday after a massive volcanic ash plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano entered India’s upper airspace, forcing multiple airlines to cancel or reroute flights as a safety precaution.
Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM confirmed the cancellation of several international services, particularly those operating to and from Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. Akasa Air announced a full suspension of its Middle East operations for November 24 and 25 due to heavy ash concentration along planned flight corridors.
IndiGo also withdrew and rescheduled multiple flights, stating that it was “continuously monitoring the drifting ash cloud and adjusting operations accordingly.” Dutch carrier KLM temporarily suspended selected routes crossing the affected region, citing engine safety concerns.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an urgent advisory directing all airlines to avoid ash-contaminated airspace, revise fuel planning, and implement alternative routing. Pilots have been instructed to report any unusual engine performance, smoke or odour that may indicate ash ingestion.
Meteorologists warn that the ash cloud—carried over the Red Sea and northern Arabian Sea—has begun entering parts of Rajasthan and Haryana, and may reach Delhi airspace soon, potentially worsening air quality. However, experts believe ground-level ash deposition remains unlikely.
DGCA has also advised airports to be prepared for immediate inspections of runways and critical surfaces if ash fallout impacts operations, while airlines and airport authorities continue to track satellite and weather data for updated plume movement.
The Hayli Gubbi eruption, the volcano’s first major activity in nearly 12,000 years, has already blanketed nearby Ethiopian settlements in ash and triggered moderate tremors in the Afar region.
