May 21, 2026
CSK’s playing XI for IPL 2026: MS Dhoni as impact sub, no place for Sarfaraz?

CSK’s playing XI for IPL 2026: MS Dhoni as impact sub, no place for Sarfaraz?

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

CSK’s predicted playing XI Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings are heading into IPL 2026 with a refreshed squad, bold decisions, and a clear shift toward the future. Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK have built a well-balanced unit featuring explosive batters, promising youngsters, and a versatile bowling attack.However, the team has suffered a significant…

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TSLPRB TST, MST hall ticket 2026 to be released tomorrow: Check steps to download admit card here

TSLPRB TST, MST hall ticket 2026 to be released tomorrow: Check steps to download admit card here

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board (TSLPRB) will release the hall tickets for the Traffic Supervisor Trainee (TST) and Mechanical Supervisor Trainee (MST) recruitment exam tomorrow, March 23, 2026. Candidates who have successfully applied will be able to download their admit cards from the official website — tgprb.in.As per the official notice, the hall…

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Soccer star Jorginho Frello slams Chappell Roan, says she ‘doesn’t deserve’ fans’ affection after daughter’s upsetting encounter

Soccer star Jorginho Frello slams Chappell Roan, says she ‘doesn’t deserve’ fans’ affection after daughter’s upsetting encounter

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

During an unexpected episode at Lollapalooza Brazil, Brazilian footballer Jorginho Frello claimed that singer Chappel Roan directed a bodyguard to confront his young daughter in an aggressive manner. The incident occurred after Frello’s 11-year-old daughter, thrilled by the presence of Roan at a hotel breakfast, merely glanced in the musician’s direction. Brazilian Soccer star Jorginho…

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CHANDIGARH: The search and rescue operation for ace Indian rally driver Hari Singh, 59, continued for a second day on Friday with rescuers now confining their efforts to a section of coral reefs near Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives where the speedboat mishap occurred on Thursday, reports Sukhmani Kooner.Specialised dive teams will look for them on Sunday. Hari Singh’s son, who had rushed to the Maldives to oversee the rescue efforts, is returning to India to be with his mother and sister. Singh’s close friends have stayed back in the Maldives and are coordinating with Maldivian authorities and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. Colleagues, friends and batchmates are in shock. Raj Kapoor, director of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, said Singh was exceptional, be it as a champion driver or his transition to his role in the JK Tyre Motorsport programme.About the AuthorSukhmani KoonerSukhmani Kooner joined Times of India straight from journalism school and covers consumer affairs, sports and public issues. She loves painting, trekking and being surrounded by natureRead MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos”Claims Are Baseless” Says Former Envoy Sanjay Verma On Trudeau’s AllegationsRahul Gandhi Warns Of Inflation Wave Amid Rupee Fall, Slams Modi Govt Over StrategyVillage Playgrounds To Mega Stadiums: Yogi Adityanath Outlines UP Sports VisionIndia Weighs Return To Iranian Crude As US Grants Short Waiver During Oil Supply DisruptionTamil Nadu Elections 2026: Chidambaram Targets AIADMK-BJP Alliance, EPS’s Delhi Visits Trigger RowINS Taragiri To Commission by April 2026, Fourth Project 17A Stealth Frigate to Join In 11 MonthsHandmade Rumani Semiya & Sheer Kurma | Ramzan Tradition from ChennaiHAL Reports Tejas Mk-1A, Prachand, Dhruv Orders Worth ₹2.22 Lakh Crore To Parliamentary CommitteePM Modi Discusses West Asia Crisis, Secure Shipping Routes With Iran PresidentWorld on edge! Rajnath Singh warns of global fallout from Iran war123PhotostoriesFamily history of type 2 diabetes? What you should start tracking now to prevent or delay the diseaseTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta to Disha Vakani; a look at the Educational Qualifications of the Cast7 traditional Indian drinks that are reasonably good source of protein6 mistakes people make while kneading atta and why the rotis don’t turn out right8 things that make you a typical Delhiite8 ways to rewire your brain and enter a higher dimensionWhy your body twitches, tingles, or has mini spasms: Hidden causes and proven ways to calm your nervous system7 mistakes that make dal lose its protein valueFrom Kotpad Tussar to Ghicha Silk: Kangana Ranaut serves ultimate saree goals14 scientific facts you probably didn’t know123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIga SwiatekAir India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

CHANDIGARH: The search and rescue operation for ace Indian rally driver Hari Singh, 59, continued for a second day on Friday with rescuers now confining their efforts to a section of coral reefs near Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives where the speedboat mishap occurred on Thursday, reports Sukhmani Kooner.Specialised dive teams will look for them on Sunday. Hari Singh’s son, who had rushed to the Maldives to oversee the rescue efforts, is returning to India to be with his mother and sister. Singh’s close friends have stayed back in the Maldives and are coordinating with Maldivian authorities and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. Colleagues, friends and batchmates are in shock. Raj Kapoor, director of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, said Singh was exceptional, be it as a champion driver or his transition to his role in the JK Tyre Motorsport programme.About the AuthorSukhmani KoonerSukhmani Kooner joined Times of India straight from journalism school and covers consumer affairs, sports and public issues. She loves painting, trekking and being surrounded by natureRead MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos”Claims Are Baseless” Says Former Envoy Sanjay Verma On Trudeau’s AllegationsRahul Gandhi Warns Of Inflation Wave Amid Rupee Fall, Slams Modi Govt Over StrategyVillage Playgrounds To Mega Stadiums: Yogi Adityanath Outlines UP Sports VisionIndia Weighs Return To Iranian Crude As US Grants Short Waiver During Oil Supply DisruptionTamil Nadu Elections 2026: Chidambaram Targets AIADMK-BJP Alliance, EPS’s Delhi Visits Trigger RowINS Taragiri To Commission by April 2026, Fourth Project 17A Stealth Frigate to Join In 11 MonthsHandmade Rumani Semiya & Sheer Kurma | Ramzan Tradition from ChennaiHAL Reports Tejas Mk-1A, Prachand, Dhruv Orders Worth ₹2.22 Lakh Crore To Parliamentary CommitteePM Modi Discusses West Asia Crisis, Secure Shipping Routes With Iran PresidentWorld on edge! Rajnath Singh warns of global fallout from Iran war123PhotostoriesFamily history of type 2 diabetes? What you should start tracking now to prevent or delay the diseaseTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta to Disha Vakani; a look at the Educational Qualifications of the Cast7 traditional Indian drinks that are reasonably good source of protein6 mistakes people make while kneading atta and why the rotis don’t turn out right8 things that make you a typical Delhiite8 ways to rewire your brain and enter a higher dimensionWhy your body twitches, tingles, or has mini spasms: Hidden causes and proven ways to calm your nervous system7 mistakes that make dal lose its protein valueFrom Kotpad Tussar to Ghicha Silk: Kangana Ranaut serves ultimate saree goals14 scientific facts you probably didn’t know123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIga SwiatekAir India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

CHANDIGARH: The search and rescue operation for ace Indian rally driver Hari Singh, 59, continued for a second day on Friday with rescuers now confining their efforts to a section of coral reefs near Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives where the speedboat mishap occurred on Thursday, reports Sukhmani Kooner.Specialised dive teams will look for them…

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Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya OUT! Ex-England star picks IPL XI, names ‘worst decision’ in history

Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya OUT! Ex-England star picks IPL XI, names ‘worst decision’ in history

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya (BCCI/IPL Photo) Former England batter Kevin Pietersen left out several marquee names, including Rohit Sharma, while naming his all-time IPL XI. During the selection, Pietersen also termed Yuzvendra Chahal’s release by Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the worst decision in the league’s history.Choosing an all-time IPL XI is always a tricky…

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COMEDK UGET 2026 registration ends tomorrow at comedk.org: Direct link to apply here

COMEDK UGET 2026 registration ends tomorrow at comedk.org: Direct link to apply here

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) will close the registration window for the Undergraduate Entrance Test (UGET) 2026 tomorrow, March 23, 2026. Candidates who have not yet applied are advised to complete their application process as soon as possible on the official website — comedk.org.Earlier, the deadline was extended to…

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Joseph Duggar case: Amy Duggar King breaks down in tears over cousin’s wife, Kendra Duggar’s arrest

Joseph Duggar case: Amy Duggar King breaks down in tears over cousin’s wife, Kendra Duggar’s arrest

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Amy Duggar King expressed shock and emotion following the arrest of her cousin Kendra Duggar, who faces charges of endangering a minor. This follows the earlier arrest of Kendra’s husband, Joseph Duggar, on allegations of molesting a child. Amy highlighted concerns about the ‘toxic system’ and emphasized child safety, praying for the victim. TRIGGER WARNING:…

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Leo Horoscope Today, March 22, 2026: Health remains fine, but the unsettled mind needs care

Leo Horoscope Today, March 22, 2026: Health remains fine, but the unsettled mind needs care

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Today brings a wave of fortune, shining a light on both unexpected rewards and well-deserved recognition in your social circles. While the possibilities are limitless, keep a level head to prevent spiraling into worry. In your personal life, remember to value connection over competition, especially with family and financial discussions. Good news tends to find…

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Watch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaos

Watch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaos

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Iranian missile strikes on southern Israel have left scenes of chaos in Dimona a town known as “Little India” for its large Indian-origin population with videos circulating online showing the moment a ballistic missile tore through residential areas.At least 47 people were injured in Dimona after a missile carrying a heavy warhead struck a community…

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Representative image Passengers seated to the (right or left) can see the pyramids of Giza.” Fatigued pilots of Air India operating flights to and from the West now often make this announcement on clear visibility days while overflying Egypt on the excruciatingly longer routes imposed by the US-Israel war against Iran.Since Feb 28, going west — except to the west coast of North America — from India means overflying Arabian Sea while steering clear of Pakistan (for Indian carriers) and Iranian airspace (for all); then turning right from over Oman en route to Muscat, Saudi Arabia or beyond, via Cairo, to Europe, UK and North America. It’s the same route on the way back. The war-zone air traffic corridor covering the airspaces of Afghanistan (starting with Pakistan for Indian carriers), Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel bears a deserted look with almost all planes flying below this passage.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Israel pounds Tehran as Iranians mark Nowruz; UAE, Kuwait defences respond to missile barrageOver 20 nations issue joint statement condemning Iran’s de facto closure of Hormuz StraitMissiles Fired Toward Diego Garcia: Iran tests long-range weapons; US rushes Marines and warships The usable corridors in the region, like parts of Saudi Arabia, are seeing the war affect them, too.The impact: Air India Delhi-London non-stop flying time has increased 50% from about eight hours — when both Pakistan (for Indian carriers) and Afghanistan airspace used to be open — to over 12 hours now after the Iran war. Its Mumbai-New York 13-14-hour non-stop has become a onestop via Rome with the travel time close to 21 hours now. IndiGo uses wide body aircraft of Norway’s Norse Atlantic airline, which completely bypass West Asia per the EU regulator’s advice. They fly over the Arabian Sea right up to Africa, and then turn right to fly north to Cairo and beyond. Same route on return for all.Since Feb 28, the Iran war has led to passengers facing a sharp rise in airfares and drastic fall in travel options with the Big Three — Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad — out of the picture for now. Airlines have seen their operating costs skyrocket, fewer lucrative Gulf flights, and fatigued pilots at the controls of their widebody aircraft. Here’s how it is impacting different stakeholders: Indian operatorsShrunk Network: They used to have between 400 and 500 daily flights between India and the West, a number that has sharply fallen since Feb 28 due to the closure of airports in Bahrain and Doha, even as those in UAE stay sporadically open and offer slots. Only a few places, like parts of Saudi, and Muscat, have regular flights and overflying these days in the region.Half of IndiGo’s 300 daily international flights were to the West and that has shrunk to a handful now. Air India Express had 110 daily West Asia connections, which is now down to 50 “ad hoc” connections. Air India had 254 scheduled weekly West Asia flights and that’s dropped to 30-40. Akasa and SpiceJet have also seen a reduction in their Gulf flights.Escalating operating costs: Since the Iran war began, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have effectively risen every time the rupee hits a new low, which is a daily feature now. It currently costs about 7 per kilo litre (kL) in both Delhi and Mumbai — up from about 9 last month. But the INR-to-USD exchange rate has gone from Rs 91 to Rs 93.30. So have all dollar-denominated costs — like lease rentals and maintenance — escalated.To top it all, routes have got much longer, which means burning much more of that costly fuel. A Boeing 787 burns about five tonnes of fuel every hour and a B777 about 7.5 tonnes. If flying time goes up by two hours, there’s an extra 10-15 tonnes burnt per flight. At 7 per tonne for international flights of domestic carriers, and the rupee at 93.30 to a dollar, the extra expense on fuel alone works out to Rs 80,000 per hour. Air India has 358 weekly flights to the West — covering Europe, UK and North America — which are still operating.Indian operators upload much more fuel than usual from India these days so that aircraft can return home with passengers — instead of getting stuck — in case of escalated fighting in West Asia. More fuel means a heavier plane. And heavier the plane, more is the fuel burn.“At current operating costs, it does not make sense to operate the West flights. We are doing so as a commitment to keep our flyers connected. Flying aircraft has always meant defying nature, with heavy metal tubes kept airborne. Now, after the Iran war, they are defying economics, too,” said a senior official. Airlines’ pleas to govt for some relief on ATF excise or VAT have been futile so far.The impact is staggering for all, more so the Maharaja. The AI Group, IndiGo and Akasa have imposed a fuel surcharge, ranging from Rs 199 to 0, on their flights. Insurance costs for flights to West Asia have soared by as much as Rs 30-40 lakh for a narrow-body return trip and Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore for a wide-body round trip.Fatigued crewWith aircraft flying much longer routes to and from the West, Air India sought — and got — exemption from flight duty time limitation rules for its crew from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator has now allowed its pilots to fly up to 11.5 hours, which means two pilots can operate longer flights without the need for a third one that would allow them to rest in turn en route. Pilots have been flying the longer routes from last April itself, when Pakistan airspace was closed during Operation Sindoor. The Iran war has further stretched the already long routes.AI’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots are worst hit as that aircraft’s cockpit seat allows limited recline due to a safety issue. “We are pushing our body to the limit of human endurance,” is what a B787 pilot had to say, a sentiment echoed by others. “Imagine sitting in an uncomfortable office chair for 11.5 hours straight and being present 100% for the entire duration as we are flying close to a war zone with GPS jamming and spoofing all the way from the airspaces close to Pakistan to beyond Turkey. Airlines should be asked to increase pilot availability. God forbid, if something goes wrong, just blame the pilot. That’s the usual script.”Both AI and DGCA are aware of the difficulties, which they blame on extraordinary circumstances. AI has converted 30 B777 pilots to the Dreamliner and they are expected to start flying in two months.“We have formally sought coordinated flight time (FT) and flight duty period (FDP) exemptions from DGCA. These ex-emptions are intended to be used only till the current Middle East airspace restrictions are in effect and are critical for maintaining schedule integrity and minimise passenger inconvenience… All such exemptions are supported by safety risk assessments and will be applied strictly in accordance with approved conditions,” AI senior VP (flight ops), Capt Manish Uppal, said in a mail recently to pilots.Turbulence hits passengersWhen the Iran war broke out, passengers were forced to shell out enormous amounts to fly to their destinations, and India was no exception. An Indian student, who had come to Delhi from Ireland in mid Feb for his grandfather’s last rites, paid Rs 1.8 lakh for a one-way ticket to return to college.Many people are holding on to their bookings on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways for this summer. If the war does not end quickly and those airlines don’t restore flights soon thereafter, airfares on other options will defy gravity in the approaching summer travel months that begin from early April in India.Adding capacityGulf carriers have historically carried a significant chunk of traffic between India and the rest of the world via their mega hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. The sudden unavailability of the Big Three has created a vacuum, with passengers who’d already booked on them for travel post Feb 28 now looking for alternatives and, thus, chasing the same limited options as those making fresh bookings.Air India is adding as many extra flights to the West as possible. Lufthansa deployed its 500-seater Airbus A380 instead of the 280-seater A350 on Munich-Delhi and Munich-Mumbai routes apart from increasing frequency between Chennai and Frankfurt. SWISS will operate a second daily service between Delhi and Zurich during March 19-24. Lufthansa is weighing the option of getting more group airlines to India. Only Lufthansa, SWISS and ITA now fly to India; there are other group carriers that do not as of now, including Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover, and Eurowings.Away from flights, some ways in which war’s hurting India…Medical devices : Rising medical-grade plastic, freight and gas costs are threatening medical supplies like syringes, hospital disposables. Prolonged disruption could trigger production cuts and price hikesPharma: Shortage of propane has led to shutdowns at drug plants across states. Output of some essential medicines hitFertilisers: LNG disruption is affecting ammonia and urea production ahead of kharif seasonRestaurants/catering: Commercial LPG shortages are pushing up costs and disrupting operationsACs: LPG and petrochemical shortages are hurting air-conditioner production just before the summer seasonAutomobiles: Costlier components, gas shortages are straining auto productionEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos”Claims Are Baseless” Says Former Envoy Sanjay Verma On Trudeau’s AllegationsRahul Gandhi Warns Of Inflation Wave Amid Rupee Fall, Slams Modi Govt Over StrategyVillage Playgrounds To Mega Stadiums: Yogi Adityanath Outlines UP Sports VisionIndia Weighs Return To Iranian Crude As US Grants Short Waiver During Oil Supply DisruptionTamil Nadu Elections 2026: Chidambaram Targets AIADMK-BJP Alliance, EPS’s Delhi Visits Trigger RowINS Taragiri To Commission by April 2026, Fourth Project 17A Stealth Frigate to Join In 11 MonthsHandmade Rumani Semiya & Sheer Kurma | Ramzan Tradition from ChennaiHAL Reports Tejas Mk-1A, Prachand, Dhruv Orders Worth ₹2.22 Lakh Crore To Parliamentary CommitteePM Modi Discusses West Asia Crisis, Secure Shipping Routes With Iran PresidentWorld on edge! Rajnath Singh warns of global fallout from Iran war123PhotostoriesFamily history of type 2 diabetes? What you should start tracking now to prevent or delay the diseaseTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta to Disha Vakani; a look at the Educational Qualifications of the Cast7 traditional Indian drinks that are reasonably good source of protein6 mistakes people make while kneading atta and why the rotis don’t turn out right8 things that make you a typical Delhiite8 ways to rewire your brain and enter a higher dimension5 crucial marriage lessons to learn from Justin Bieber and HaileyWhy your body twitches, tingles, or has mini spasms: Hidden causes and proven ways to calm your nervous system7 mistakes that make dal lose its protein valueFrom Kotpad Tussar to Ghicha Silk: Kangana Ranaut serves ultimate saree goals123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIga SwiatekAir India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

Representative image Passengers seated to the (right or left) can see the pyramids of Giza.” Fatigued pilots of Air India operating flights to and from the West now often make this announcement on clear visibility days while overflying Egypt on the excruciatingly longer routes imposed by the US-Israel war against Iran.Since Feb 28, going west — except to the west coast of North America — from India means overflying Arabian Sea while steering clear of Pakistan (for Indian carriers) and Iranian airspace (for all); then turning right from over Oman en route to Muscat, Saudi Arabia or beyond, via Cairo, to Europe, UK and North America. It’s the same route on the way back. The war-zone air traffic corridor covering the airspaces of Afghanistan (starting with Pakistan for Indian carriers), Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel bears a deserted look with almost all planes flying below this passage.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Israel pounds Tehran as Iranians mark Nowruz; UAE, Kuwait defences respond to missile barrageOver 20 nations issue joint statement condemning Iran’s de facto closure of Hormuz StraitMissiles Fired Toward Diego Garcia: Iran tests long-range weapons; US rushes Marines and warships The usable corridors in the region, like parts of Saudi Arabia, are seeing the war affect them, too.The impact: Air India Delhi-London non-stop flying time has increased 50% from about eight hours — when both Pakistan (for Indian carriers) and Afghanistan airspace used to be open — to over 12 hours now after the Iran war. Its Mumbai-New York 13-14-hour non-stop has become a onestop via Rome with the travel time close to 21 hours now. IndiGo uses wide body aircraft of Norway’s Norse Atlantic airline, which completely bypass West Asia per the EU regulator’s advice. They fly over the Arabian Sea right up to Africa, and then turn right to fly north to Cairo and beyond. Same route on return for all.Since Feb 28, the Iran war has led to passengers facing a sharp rise in airfares and drastic fall in travel options with the Big Three — Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad — out of the picture for now. Airlines have seen their operating costs skyrocket, fewer lucrative Gulf flights, and fatigued pilots at the controls of their widebody aircraft. Here’s how it is impacting different stakeholders: Indian operatorsShrunk Network: They used to have between 400 and 500 daily flights between India and the West, a number that has sharply fallen since Feb 28 due to the closure of airports in Bahrain and Doha, even as those in UAE stay sporadically open and offer slots. Only a few places, like parts of Saudi, and Muscat, have regular flights and overflying these days in the region.Half of IndiGo’s 300 daily international flights were to the West and that has shrunk to a handful now. Air India Express had 110 daily West Asia connections, which is now down to 50 “ad hoc” connections. Air India had 254 scheduled weekly West Asia flights and that’s dropped to 30-40. Akasa and SpiceJet have also seen a reduction in their Gulf flights.Escalating operating costs: Since the Iran war began, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have effectively risen every time the rupee hits a new low, which is a daily feature now. It currently costs about $817 per kilo litre (kL) in both Delhi and Mumbai — up from about $779 last month. But the INR-to-USD exchange rate has gone from Rs 91 to Rs 93.30. So have all dollar-denominated costs — like lease rentals and maintenance — escalated.To top it all, routes have got much longer, which means burning much more of that costly fuel. A Boeing 787 burns about five tonnes of fuel every hour and a B777 about 7.5 tonnes. If flying time goes up by two hours, there’s an extra 10-15 tonnes burnt per flight. At $817 per tonne for international flights of domestic carriers, and the rupee at 93.30 to a dollar, the extra expense on fuel alone works out to Rs 80,000 per hour. Air India has 358 weekly flights to the West — covering Europe, UK and North America — which are still operating.Indian operators upload much more fuel than usual from India these days so that aircraft can return home with passengers — instead of getting stuck — in case of escalated fighting in West Asia. More fuel means a heavier plane. And heavier the plane, more is the fuel burn.“At current operating costs, it does not make sense to operate the West flights. We are doing so as a commitment to keep our flyers connected. Flying aircraft has always meant defying nature, with heavy metal tubes kept airborne. Now, after the Iran war, they are defying economics, too,” said a senior official. Airlines’ pleas to govt for some relief on ATF excise or VAT have been futile so far.The impact is staggering for all, more so the Maharaja. The AI Group, IndiGo and Akasa have imposed a fuel surcharge, ranging from Rs 199 to $200, on their flights. Insurance costs for flights to West Asia have soared by as much as Rs 30-40 lakh for a narrow-body return trip and Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore for a wide-body round trip.Fatigued crewWith aircraft flying much longer routes to and from the West, Air India sought — and got — exemption from flight duty time limitation rules for its crew from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator has now allowed its pilots to fly up to 11.5 hours, which means two pilots can operate longer flights without the need for a third one that would allow them to rest in turn en route. Pilots have been flying the longer routes from last April itself, when Pakistan airspace was closed during Operation Sindoor. The Iran war has further stretched the already long routes.AI’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots are worst hit as that aircraft’s cockpit seat allows limited recline due to a safety issue. “We are pushing our body to the limit of human endurance,” is what a B787 pilot had to say, a sentiment echoed by others. “Imagine sitting in an uncomfortable office chair for 11.5 hours straight and being present 100% for the entire duration as we are flying close to a war zone with GPS jamming and spoofing all the way from the airspaces close to Pakistan to beyond Turkey. Airlines should be asked to increase pilot availability. God forbid, if something goes wrong, just blame the pilot. That’s the usual script.”Both AI and DGCA are aware of the difficulties, which they blame on extraordinary circumstances. AI has converted 30 B777 pilots to the Dreamliner and they are expected to start flying in two months.“We have formally sought coordinated flight time (FT) and flight duty period (FDP) exemptions from DGCA. These ex-emptions are intended to be used only till the current Middle East airspace restrictions are in effect and are critical for maintaining schedule integrity and minimise passenger inconvenience… All such exemptions are supported by safety risk assessments and will be applied strictly in accordance with approved conditions,” AI senior VP (flight ops), Capt Manish Uppal, said in a mail recently to pilots.Turbulence hits passengersWhen the Iran war broke out, passengers were forced to shell out enormous amounts to fly to their destinations, and India was no exception. An Indian student, who had come to Delhi from Ireland in mid Feb for his grandfather’s last rites, paid Rs 1.8 lakh for a one-way ticket to return to college.Many people are holding on to their bookings on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways for this summer. If the war does not end quickly and those airlines don’t restore flights soon thereafter, airfares on other options will defy gravity in the approaching summer travel months that begin from early April in India.Adding capacityGulf carriers have historically carried a significant chunk of traffic between India and the rest of the world via their mega hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. The sudden unavailability of the Big Three has created a vacuum, with passengers who’d already booked on them for travel post Feb 28 now looking for alternatives and, thus, chasing the same limited options as those making fresh bookings.Air India is adding as many extra flights to the West as possible. Lufthansa deployed its 500-seater Airbus A380 instead of the 280-seater A350 on Munich-Delhi and Munich-Mumbai routes apart from increasing frequency between Chennai and Frankfurt. SWISS will operate a second daily service between Delhi and Zurich during March 19-24. Lufthansa is weighing the option of getting more group airlines to India. Only Lufthansa, SWISS and ITA now fly to India; there are other group carriers that do not as of now, including Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover, and Eurowings.Away from flights, some ways in which war’s hurting India…Medical devices : Rising medical-grade plastic, freight and gas costs are threatening medical supplies like syringes, hospital disposables. Prolonged disruption could trigger production cuts and price hikesPharma: Shortage of propane has led to shutdowns at drug plants across states. Output of some essential medicines hitFertilisers: LNG disruption is affecting ammonia and urea production ahead of kharif seasonRestaurants/catering: Commercial LPG shortages are pushing up costs and disrupting operationsACs: LPG and petrochemical shortages are hurting air-conditioner production just before the summer seasonAutomobiles: Costlier components, gas shortages are straining auto productionEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos”Claims Are Baseless” Says Former Envoy Sanjay Verma On Trudeau’s AllegationsRahul Gandhi Warns Of Inflation Wave Amid Rupee Fall, Slams Modi Govt Over StrategyVillage Playgrounds To Mega Stadiums: Yogi Adityanath Outlines UP Sports VisionIndia Weighs Return To Iranian Crude As US Grants Short Waiver During Oil Supply DisruptionTamil Nadu Elections 2026: Chidambaram Targets AIADMK-BJP Alliance, EPS’s Delhi Visits Trigger RowINS Taragiri To Commission by April 2026, Fourth Project 17A Stealth Frigate to Join In 11 MonthsHandmade Rumani Semiya & Sheer Kurma | Ramzan Tradition from ChennaiHAL Reports Tejas Mk-1A, Prachand, Dhruv Orders Worth ₹2.22 Lakh Crore To Parliamentary CommitteePM Modi Discusses West Asia Crisis, Secure Shipping Routes With Iran PresidentWorld on edge! Rajnath Singh warns of global fallout from Iran war123PhotostoriesFamily history of type 2 diabetes? What you should start tracking now to prevent or delay the diseaseTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Munmun Dutta to Disha Vakani; a look at the Educational Qualifications of the Cast7 traditional Indian drinks that are reasonably good source of protein6 mistakes people make while kneading atta and why the rotis don’t turn out right8 things that make you a typical Delhiite8 ways to rewire your brain and enter a higher dimension5 crucial marriage lessons to learn from Justin Bieber and HaileyWhy your body twitches, tingles, or has mini spasms: Hidden causes and proven ways to calm your nervous system7 mistakes that make dal lose its protein valueFrom Kotpad Tussar to Ghicha Silk: Kangana Ranaut serves ultimate saree goals123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIga SwiatekAir India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

Vamsikrishna08 mins mins

Passengers seated to the (right or left) can see the pyramids of Giza.” Fatigued pilots of Air India operating flights to and from the West now often make this announcement on clear visibility days while overflying Egypt on the excruciatingly longer routes imposed by the US-Israel war against Iran.Since Feb 28, going west — except…

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Updated: Mar 22, 2026, 08:24 IST

Updated: Mar 22, 2026, 08:24 IST

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, with the spotlight firmly on 14-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Renowned for his aggressive strokeplay, Sooryavanshi has already piled up records across formats. He heads into IPL 2026…

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JEE Main 2026 city intimation slip for Session 2 released at NTA website: Direct link to download here

JEE Main 2026 city intimation slip for Session 2 released at NTA website: Direct link to download here

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 city intimation slip: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the city intimation slip for Session 2 of the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026. Candidates who have registered for the exam can now check the city where their exam centre will be located by visiting the official website.The city intimation…

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Gwyneth Paltrow calls herself “one of the original nepo babies”, reflects on privilege, pressure, and carving her own path

Gwyneth Paltrow calls herself “one of the original nepo babies”, reflects on privilege, pressure, and carving her own path

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Gwyneth Paltrow has once again leaned into her “nepo baby” status with a good‑natured jab at her own Hollywood entry, joking that she is “one of the original nepo babies”.While accepting an honor at the 2026 New York Women in Film & Television Muse Awards on March 20. The event, which celebrated women in the…

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Dhurandhar 2 Full Movie Collection: ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ box office collection day 3: Ranveer Singh, Rakesh Bedi starrer crosses Rs 500 crore mark globally |

Dhurandhar 2 Full Movie Collection: ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ box office collection day 3: Ranveer Singh, Rakesh Bedi starrer crosses Rs 500 crore mark globally |

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ has been the talk of the town right from the word go, and this Ranveer Singh starrer spy thriller has lived up to the expectations of the audience. Released just a few months ago following its first instalment, the Aditya Dhar-directed movie has broken box office records by joining the 500 crore…

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