Geopolitical Tensions in West Asia Disrupt Air Travel; Airlines Suspend and Reroute Flights
Rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia have caused significant disruptions in international air travel. Multiple airlines, both Indian and international, have suspended flights or rerouted operations due to safety concerns. The shutdown of airspace across the Middle East and Gulf region has forced airlines to make operational adjustments, prioritizing passenger safety.
Passengers are strongly advised to check their flight status, as schedules may continue to change due to airspace closures and security-related restrictions.
Flight Suspensions Extended by Major Airlines
Several airlines operating in the region have extended their flight suspensions:
Air India and IndiGo have halted all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 11:59 pm IST on March 2, 2026.
Qatar Airways will resume operations only after the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms that the airspace is fully reopened.
Gulf-Based Airlines Temporarily Halt Operations
Emirates has suspended all flights between Dubai and other destinations until 4:30 pm IST on March 2, while Etihad Airways has suspended flights between Abu Dhabi and other destinations until 3:30 pm IST on March 2.
IndiGo Cancels 162 Flights Across Regions
IndiGo has cancelled 162 flights connecting India with the Middle East and Europe due to ongoing airspace restrictions.
Key routes affected include:
UK & Europe:
BOM – LHR, DEL – RKT, LHR – BOM, RKT – IST, BOM – AMS, IST – RKT, AMS – BOM, RKT – DEL, BOM – MAN, BOM – RKT, MAN – BOM, RKT – IST, DEL – MAN, RKT – BOM, MAN – DEL, IST – RKT, ATH – DEL, BOM – ATH
Middle East:
Kuwait (KWI), Bahrain (BAH), Oman (MCT), Qatar (DOH)
Example flights: DEL – KWI, BOM – BAH, BOM – MCT, BLR – DOH, HYD – KWI, COK – MCT, BOM – DOH, KWI – HYD, MCT – COK, DOH – BOM
UAE:
Abu Dhabi (AUH): Flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, and Madurai suspended
Sharjah (SHJ): Flights from Hyderabad, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, and Amritsar cancelled
Dubai (DXB): Flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kozhikode, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar suspended
Saudi Arabia:
Flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, and Dammam have been temporarily cancelled.
Additional suspensions include routes to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
Qatar Airways Flights Remain Suspended
All Qatar Airways flights continue to be suspended until Qatari airspace is officially reopened. The airline has stated that services will resume only after the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms it is safe. Passengers should check the airline’s official website or mobile app for the latest flight updates. The next operational update is scheduled for March 3, 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC).
Advice for Travellers
Passengers are advised to:
Monitor flight status before travelling
Check airline websites or apps for real-time updates
Plan for potential delays or rescheduling due to the current airspace restrictions/
