Amid ongoing safety concerns about Iranian airspace, United Airlines has decided to suspend service between India and Newark until September 1.

United operated direct flights connecting Newark to Delhi and to Mumbai. Air India is the only other carrier which flies non-stop on these routes.

"Given current events in the Middle East and the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, we have decided to suspend our service between India (Mumbai and Delhi) and Newark until September 1," United said in an email response to a query from CNBC-TV18.

Early Thursday, Iran shot down the RQ-4A Global Hawk drone of the US. This immediately escalated tensions in the region which is grappling with crippling sanctions after the US withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal. The drone was a high-altitude robot used for surveillance over the ocean and coastal regions.

Following the shooting down of a drone, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order prohibiting all US airlines and commercial operators from operating over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The US aviation regulator also warned pilots that flights are not permitted in the overwater area of the Tehran Flight Information Region until further notice, "due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions that might place commercial flights at risk."

The NOTAM further added that these military activities and political tensions present an inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations and potential for miscalculation and misidentification.

"We are contacting our customers to provide this update and assist those who may need to make other travel arrangements, including rebooking on other airlines or offering full refunds. Additionally, we will remain in close contact with relevant government authorities throughout the suspension in order to provide our customers with the latest updates and most efficient travel experience under these circumstances," United added.

First Published:Jun 22, 2019 4:08 PM IST