Over the last three days, airlines have canceled or rerouted hundreds of flights, with further changes anticipated on Monday, March 2.
Impacts on Europe and Middle East routes
Major European routes, including those to London, Zurich, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan, and Vienna, have been severely impacted by airspace closures and the necessity to avoid conflict-sensitive areas.
Airlines are now following longer detours, which extend flying times and complicate scheduling.
International carriers have also modified their operations. Qatar Airways has suspended services in the region until March 2, while Etihad Airways has canceled flights to and from Abu Dhabi until the same date.
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However, CNBC-TV18 reports that Etihad is likely to resume flights to India on March 2.
Advisory from Delhi Airport
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has issued a passenger advisory in light of the current events.
“Due to the evolving political landscape in the Middle East, westbound international flights are still facing operational disruptions and changes in schedules,” stated the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) in an advisory issued on March 2 at 8 am.
Passengers are encouraged to verify the latest updates with their airlines before heading to the airport. “For real-time flight information, please visit our official website: www.newdelhiairport.in.”
The airport further recommended that travelers rely exclusively on official communication channels for verified updates.
Passenger Advisory issued at 08:00 hrs.#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory@MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia pic.twitter.com/cVZVKFdwqz
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) March 2, 2026
Flight cancellations exceed 400
At least 410 flights operated by Indian airlines were canceled at Delhi airport on February 28 due to escalating tensions in the region. The disruptions continued into March 1, with around 350 flights canceled, according to a report by News18.
On March 2, at least 300 flights are projected to be affected as airlines navigate operational constraints and longer routes.
Read more: The Iran-Israel-US conflict: Trump predicts a prolonged confrontation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working with airlines and relevant bodies to address the changing situation. The Passenger Assistance Control Room is overseeing grievance redress and providing support for affected travelers.
Air India and Akasa Air suspend services
Air India has extended the suspension of flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 11:59 pm on March 2, citing safety and operational concerns.
The airline has also canceled select services bound for Europe on March 2, indicating that some North America and Europe flights will take alternative routes, which may include technical stops in Rome.
“In light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, Air India has prolonged the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 2359 hrs IST on March 2, 2026.Additionally, select flights to Europe scheduled for March 2…
— Air India (@airindia) March 1, 2026
Akasa Air has also suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh until March 3.
“We will keep updating our flight status for these destinations based on the current situation,” stated the company, noting that passengers with bookings to or from these cities until March 7 can opt for a full refund or reschedule at no extra cost.
#TravelUpdate: March 02, 2026 I 11:30 IST
Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, all Akasa Air flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh have also been suspended for March 3, 2026. We will continue updating our flight status for these…— Akasa Air (@AkasaAir) March 2, 2026
Qatar Airways has also extended the suspension of its flight operations due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
“Qatar Airways will restart operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority indicates that Qatari airspace is safe to reopen. Further updates will be provided on March 03 by 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC),” stated Qatar Airways.
Passengers are encouraged to monitor flight information via the airline’s website or mobile app.
Emirates has also extended its temporary suspension of all flight operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500 hrs UAE time on Tuesday, March 3.
“The situation remains fluid and is under continuous assessment. We advise customers to review the latest operational updates on emirates.com and check their email for notifications regarding changes or cancellations of their flights before traveling to the airport,” the airline announced.
