Global flight operations have been largely affected by the evolving situation in the Middle East, triggered by a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Tehran’s fierce retaliation. Missile attacks from both sides have made skies unsafe for aviation amid rising tensions, leading to widespread flight cancellations as some Gulf states closed their airspace. Airports in Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates also closed their airspace.The destruction followed a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israeli and U.S. military installations in the Gulf. Military operations continued after Khamenei’s death, with both the United States and Israel attacking Iranian military bases. In return, Iran has launched missiles and drones at Israel, U.S. bases in the Gulf and other regional targets.
Major transport hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi handle major traffic between Europe, Asia and Africa. Airlines operating through West Asia may reroute to Saudi Arabia or use longer ocean routes, causing delays and higher costs. More than 2,800 flights were canceled in the Middle East on Sunday, according to Flight Aware. West Asian airlines alone have canceled about 1,600 flights. Nearly 350 flights were canceled in India that day. Delhi Airport reported 100 flight cancellations, while Mumbai Airport reported 125 flight cancellations. Tiruchirappalli airport also witnessed multiple flight cancellations.
air india
Air India has suspended flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until March 2. The airline canceled about 125 international flights and said flights in North America and Europe would be diverted to alternative routes with a technical stop in Rome. The airline advises passengers to check online for the latest information.“In view of the continued deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 2359 UTC on March 2, 2026. In addition, some flights to Europe scheduled for March 2, 2026 have been cancelled,” the airline said.
indigo
IndiGo Airlines has suspended some international flights using West Asian airspace until March 2. The company is offering passengers the option to rebook or request a refund and said it will share the latest information directly. “This extension is a precautionary measure to ensure we maintain the highest safety standards for our customers and crew,” an IndiGo statement read.
red narrow water
Akasa Air has suspended flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh until March 2. The airline is offering affected passengers a full refund or free rescheduling. “Passengers with affected bookings before March 7, 2026 can choose to receive a full refund or reschedule their trip at no extra charge,” the statement said.
SpiceJet
SpiceJeat has canceled all flights between India and the UAE (to and from the UAE) between March 1, 2026 and March 2, 2026.“Due to the temporary closure of UAE airspace during the current situation, all SpiceJet flights to and from India and UAE have been canceled until March 1, 2026. Passengers are advised to check flight status before traveling to the airport,” the airline said.
Emirates Airlines
Emirates has suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Monday afternoon local time. The airline is asking passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.The official statement read: “Due to airspace closures in multiple areas, Emirates has suspended all flights to and from Dubai until 1500 hours UAE time on Monday 2 March.”
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways said its operations remained temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatar’s airspace. The airline further stated that it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority declares it is safe to reopen Qatar’s airspace. Further updates will be provided on March 2 at 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC)
Etihad Airways
“Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad Airways’ operations, with all flights to and from Abu Dhabi suspended until 14:00 Emirates time on Monday, March 2,” Etihad Airways said in a social media post. The Gulf airline has canceled 30% of its flights, according to aviation analyst Cirium.Thousands of passengers remain stranded in West Asia and other international hubs. As the fighting continues, travelers wait at airports and hotels with no clear timetable for when normal flight operations will resume.
