Middle East airspace closure forces 850+ flight cancellations of Indian carriers

Gulf-based countries account for nearly 50 percent of total international passenger traffic to and from India.

• Middle East airspace restrictions cancel hundreds of flights
• Air India cancels 28 flights to Europe, North America
• Qatar Airways halts flights; Indian planes stuck in Gulf airports

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Widespread airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East have led to significant disruption to flight operations, with hundreds of cancellations affecting both domestic and international travel.

According to official figures shared by India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, 410 flights operated by domestic carriers were cancelled on February 28, while 444 additional cancellations are expected on March 1 as the situation continues to evolve.

Air India cancels 28 international flights

Air India has cancelled 28 international flights scheduled for March 1, affecting services connecting major Indian cities with Europe and North America. The affected routes include departures from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to destinations such as London, New York, Newark, Chicago, Vienna and Frankfurt. Many of these flights typically transit through Middle Eastern airspace, now subject to restrictions.

The airline has advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

DGCA monitoring compliance and passenger support

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it is maintaining close coordination with airlines to ensure full compliance with safety and operational regulations during the disruption. Major airports across India remain on operational alert to manage potential diversions and facilitate passenger movement.

Senior officials have been deployed at key airports to oversee passenger assistance, airline coordination and terminal crowd management.

The Ministry’s Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) continues to monitor passenger concerns. On February 28, the AirSewa grievance portal recorded 216 complaints, of which 105 were resolved during the same period to ensure timely support to affected travellers.

Qatar Airways suspends operations

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended its flight operations following the closure of Qatari airspace. The airline said services will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of the airspace. A further operational update is expected by 09:00 Doha time.

Aircraft stranded in Gulf airports

According to flight tracking platform Flightradar24, at least nine aircraft belonging to Indian carriers were stranded at Gulf airports, including four at Dubai International Airport. However, Indian airlines have not officially confirmed the number of aircraft affected by the sudden airspace closure.

The disruption at Dubai — one of the world’s busiest transit hubs — has particularly impacted Indian travellers, given the heavy traffic flows between India and the Gulf region.

Gulf region critical to India’s international traffic

Data from the DGCA for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, highlights the strategic importance of Gulf markets to India’s aviation sector. Gulf-based countries account for nearly 50 percent of total international passenger traffic to and from India.

The United Arab Emirates alone — including destinations such as Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Quwain — commands approximately 29 percent of India’s international flyers market.

With operations suspended at key transit hubs and airspace access restricted across the region, stakeholders across the aviation ecosystem are working in close coordination to ensure orderly handling of affected passengers and timely assistance to all concerned travellers.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as airlines await further clarity on the reopening of critical Middle Eastern air corridors.