Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 28: Escalating tensions in West Asia led to extensive flight cancellations at Kerala’s international airports on Friday, severely affecting thousands of expatriates and their families with travel plans to the Gulf region.

Airport officials confirmed that the highest number of cancellations occurred at Cochin International Airport, the state’s busiest hub for Gulf-bound travel. Operations were similarly disrupted at Kannur International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, and Calicut International Airport, with several flights either cancelled or rescheduled due to airspace closures and heightened security concerns in parts of the Middle East.

Cochin International Airport alone reported the cancellation of 14 flights and issued an advisory urging passengers travelling to West Asia to confirm flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport. In a striking incident, a flight en route to Muscat was recalled mid-air, highlighting the volatile and rapidly evolving operational scenario.

The disruptions follow joint military actions by Israel and the United States in Iran and the subsequent escalation across the region. As Gulf nations introduced precautionary airspace restrictions, airlines responded with cancellations and route diversions to ensure passenger safety.

The impact is especially significant for Kerala, where nearly 85 per cent of its estimated 2.5 million-strong diaspora resides in Middle Eastern countries. The Gulf region remains central to the state’s remittance-driven economy, raising concerns that prolonged instability could have broader economic and social repercussions.

Reacting to the situation, K. C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary and Member of Parliament from Alappuzha, voiced deep concern. He urged the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs to take swift diplomatic and logistical steps to safeguard Indian nationals in the region.

Venugopal called for immediate arrangements to facilitate safe passage and, if required, evacuation of those at risk or seeking to return home amid the uncertainty.