Low-cost carrier IndiGo announced on 26 January that it has cancelled all services to Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Baku (Azerbaijan) until 28 January. While the airline cited only “recent developments around Iran” in its statement, aviation analysts point to escalating regional security alerts that have prompted several Middle-East overflights to reroute or suspend operations outright.
IndiGo operates India–Central Asia routes mainly from Delhi and Mumbai, feeding oil-and-gas, pharma and textile supply chains as well as growing outbound tourism.
For travellers scrambling to rebook through alternative hubs, shifting routings can introduce fresh transit or entry-visa requirements. VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) allows passengers and corporate travel managers to check real-time rules for Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and any substitute stopovers, file applications online and arrange courier pick-ups—streamlining paperwork when itineraries change at the last minute.
![IndiGo Halts Flights to Central Asia and Caucasus Through 28 January Amid Iran-Related Tensions]()
The pause strands an estimated 4,000 passengers, including business travellers scheduled to attend trade shows ahead of Kazakhstan’s fiscal year-end.
Affected customers are being offered full refunds or re-accommodation once flights restart, but the notice period—barely 24 hours—leaves little scope to secure alternatives on Air Astana, Azerbaijan Airlines or Uzbekistan Airways, all of which are experiencing surges in load factors. Freight forwarders moving time-sensitive pharmaceuticals via belly cargo are scrambling to shift consignments onto Gulf carriers that still overfly safer corridors.
Corporate travel managers with exposure to the region should activate duty-of-care protocols, track employees’ onward land movements and check the latest insurance coverage for war-risk zones. Companies planning site visits in February should prepare for schedule volatility as geopolitical tensions remain fluid.
IndiGo operates India–Central Asia routes mainly from Delhi and Mumbai, feeding oil-and-gas, pharma and textile supply chains as well as growing outbound tourism.
For travellers scrambling to rebook through alternative hubs, shifting routings can introduce fresh transit or entry-visa requirements. VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) allows passengers and corporate travel managers to check real-time rules for Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and any substitute stopovers, file applications online and arrange courier pick-ups—streamlining paperwork when itineraries change at the last minute.
The pause strands an estimated 4,000 passengers, including business travellers scheduled to attend trade shows ahead of Kazakhstan’s fiscal year-end.
Affected customers are being offered full refunds or re-accommodation once flights restart, but the notice period—barely 24 hours—leaves little scope to secure alternatives on Air Astana, Azerbaijan Airlines or Uzbekistan Airways, all of which are experiencing surges in load factors. Freight forwarders moving time-sensitive pharmaceuticals via belly cargo are scrambling to shift consignments onto Gulf carriers that still overfly safer corridors.
Corporate travel managers with exposure to the region should activate duty-of-care protocols, track employees’ onward land movements and check the latest insurance coverage for war-risk zones. Companies planning site visits in February should prepare for schedule volatility as geopolitical tensions remain fluid.
