Some of the world’s busiest travel hubs, such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, experienced lengthy shutdowns. Thousands of passengers found themselves stranded as airlines either cancelled flights or altered their routes to steer clear of hazardous zones.
Major airports shut and flights disrupted
Key transit airports like Dubai International and Doha’s Hamad International Airport encountered significant disruptions. Dubai International, home to Emirates, reportedly had over 600 outgoing flights cancelled. Doha’s airport also ceased operations temporarily, impacting Qatar Airways’ global network.
Other airports were likewise impacted. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport and Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport experienced service disruptions as airlines grappled with closed airspace and safety issues.
According to Reuters, airlines across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East cancelled flights to cities including Tel Aviv, Beirut, Tehran, Dubai, and Riyadh.
Emirates and Qatar Airways were among those most heavily impacted, with each cancelling over 400 flights as of late Sunday, based on flight tracking data. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
Airlines suspend and reroute services
Numerous international carriers announced cancellations or route adjustments. Aegean Airlines suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Erbil through March 3. Air France halted services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh through March 3.
KLM cautioned about disruptions to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam through March 6 and stopped Tel Aviv flights.
British Airways permitted passengers flying between London and destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv to modify travel dates without additional fees until March 15. Refunds were said to be available for those traveling up to March 8.
Cathay Pacific cancelled flights to Dubai until March 5 and suspended services to Riyadh through March 3. Emirates and Etihad Airways paused operations from their Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs on March 2.
Other airlines, including ITA Airways, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Norwegian Air, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Turkish Airlines, and Wizz Air, have also either suspended or rerouted their services.
Japan Airlines cancelled its Tokyo-Doha flights, affecting around 1,000 passengers across six services. Airlines cited safety risks, restricted airspace, and operational constraints as the main reasons for these decisions.
Indian carriers face heavy impact
The crisis has also heavily impacted Indian aviation. IndiGo, which serves multiple routes to Dubai, Doha, and Jeddah, logged the highest number of cancellations among non-West Asian airlines.
On February 28, 410 flights operated by Indian airlines were cancelled at Delhi airport. On March 1, at least 350 flights were scrapped. By March 2, a minimum of 300 flights were anticipated to be affected as airlines continued adjusting their schedules.
The civil aviation ministry reported that Indian carriers cancelled around 350 international flights on Sunday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is collaborating with airlines and related agencies to manage the situation.
Additionally, a Passenger Assistance Control Room has been established to assist stranded travelers.
Air India extends suspension and changes routes
Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 11:59 pm IST on March 2. The deadline has now passed, and updates are pending based on the evolving situation.
The airline also cancelled six Europe-bound services on March 2, including Amritsar-Birmingham (AI117), Birmingham-Delhi (AI114), Delhi-Zurich (AI151 and AI152), and Delhi-Copenhagen (AI157 and AI158). On Sunday, it had cancelled 50 international flights.
Flights to North America and Europe are now being operated via alternative routes. Services to New York’s JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport are making technical stops at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.
With Iranian and Iraqi airspace closed, Air India aircraft are now flying via Oman, southern Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This has increased travel time to Europe by 30 to 40 minutes and raised operating costs.
The airline reportedly stated that it is assessing safety and airspace availability before finalizing schedules and communicating with affected passengers while coordinating other travel options.
SpiceJet to operate four special flights from Fujairah
On March 3, SpiceJet announced plans to operate four special flights from the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah airport. This initiative aims to assist Indian citizens stranded due to ongoing flight disruptions caused by the crisis in West Asia.
These flights are intended to transport travelers who have been unable to return home after airspace closures in the Gulf region led to extensive cancellations and suspensions.
The airline indicated that this action aims to provide support for affected passengers while regular schedules remain uncertain due to continued safety concerns and limited corridor openings.
