Air India extends flight suspension from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until midnight, European routes also affected

Air India has extended the suspension of all its flights to and from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 11.59 pm on Monday as escalating tensions due to the Israel-Iran conflict continue to disrupt aviation operations in West Asia.

The airline also announced that certain flights to Europe scheduled for March 2 have been canceled due to operational restrictions related to restricted airspace over parts of the Middle East.

The latest extension left several passengers stranded at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where several international flights were canceled or delayed due to rapidly changing flight schedules.

AIRSPACE CLOSURES DISRUPT WEST ROUTES

A day earlier, airport authorities had warned of widespread disruption to westbound international traffic after several Middle Eastern countries closed their airspace following the sharp escalation of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

In a March 1 travel advisory, IGI Airport urged passengers to check flight status with airlines before heading to the airport, warning that international services may experience delays, diversions or last-minute schedule changes.

According to sources, around 100 flights – including 60 departures and 40 arrivals – were canceled at IGI Airport due to the changing situation.

Similar disruptions were reported at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where 125 flights (67 departures and 58 arrivals) were canceled.

At Tiruchirappalli International Airport, airport authorities reported cancellation of 17 arrivals and 16 departures on March 1, along with additional cancellations scheduled for March 2.

AIRLINES SUSPENDED OPERATIONS ACROSS THE REGION

Airspace restrictions over Iran and neighboring regions have severely affected the international aviation corridors connecting India with Europe and West Asia. Air India Express alone canceled more than 110 flights due to operational constraints.

International airlines also announced temporary suspensions. Dubai-based Emirates halted flights to and from Dubai until 3pm (UAE time) on March 2, while flight operations at Doha’s Hamad International Airport remained temporarily suspended following the closure of Qatar’s airspace.

The disruptions come amid heightened regional tensions after joint missile strikes by the United States and Israel targeted sites in Iran, leading to widespread airspace closures in West Asia and impacting global aviation routes.

Airlines have advised passengers to regularly monitor flight updates as flight schedules remain subject to rapid changes depending on the evolving security situation.

– Ends

With ANI inputs