The “Aviation Highway” between India and the West has effectively hit a dead end. Following the joint US-Israel missile strikes on Iran—dubbed Operation Epic Fury—the majority of West Asian airspace has been declared a “no-fly zone.” This has triggered a massive domino effect across Indian airports, with carriers extending cancellations as the security situation in the Middle East remains volatile.
From Delhi’s IGI to Mumbai’s CSMIA, terminal buildings are currently crowded with stranded passengers as airlines struggle with “operational constraints” that prevent even Europe-bound flights from taking off.
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Flight Suspension Tracker: Major Carriers
Airlines are updating their schedules every few hours based on the latest intelligence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and international monitors.
| Airline | Status / Destination | Duration |
| Air India | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar | Suspended until Midnight, March 2 |
| Akasa Air | Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, Riyadh | Suspended until March 2 |
| Air India Express | Iran and neighboring regions | 110+ flights cancelled |
| Emirates | To/From Dubai | Suspended until 3:00 PM (UAE time) |
| Hamad Intl. | Doha, Qatar | All operations Temporarily Suspended |
Airport Chaos: Delhi, Mumbai, and Trichy
The sheer volume of cancellations has overwhelmed airport ground staff.
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Delhi (IGI): Roughly 100 flights (60 departures and 40 arrivals) were scrapped by Sunday evening.
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Mumbai (CSMIA): The impact was even larger, with 125 flights cancelled, including key long-haul connections.
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Tiruchirappalli: A major hub for West Asia travel, Trichy reported 33 cancellations over the last 24 hours.
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Westbound Rerouting: Europe Flights Impacted
It isn’t just flights to the Middle East that are grounded.
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Europe-bound: Air India has cancelled select flights to London, Paris, and Frankfurt because the standard flight paths over Iran and Iraq are blocked.
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Fuel Stops: Alternative routes over Central Asia are adding 2–4 hours of flight time, leading to technical stops and crew-duty-time complications.
Reality Check
The “Midnight, March 2” deadline is optimistic. Still, the reopening of airspace depends entirely on the retaliatory cycle between Iran and the US. Therefore, while airlines are offering “full refunds,” the actual cost of rebooking a last-minute ticket once flights resume will likely be 3x the original price. In fact, even if airspace opens on Tuesday, the “backlog” of stranded passengers will take at least 5–7 days to clear.
The Loopholes
Airlines are offering “full refunds” for flights affected until March 7. In fact, this is a “Liquidity Loophole”—while you get your money back, the airline keeps the interest and you are left without a seat in a hyper-competitive market. Therefore, choosing a “Reschedule without additional charges” is almost always better than a refund if you still need to travel. Still, the “Force Majeure Loophole”—where airlines claim “acts of war”—means they are not legally obligated to provide hotel accommodation for stranded passengers, though the MoCA is currently “prioritizing” these grievances.
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What This Means for You
If you have a flight scheduled to or through the Middle East this week, do not leave for the airport. First, realize that your flight status can change while you are in the taxi. Then, if your flight is cancelled, immediately contact your airline via their app or dedicated WhatsApp bot, as phone helplines are currently experiencing 2-hour wait times.
Finally, understand that insurance is your best friend. You should check if your travel insurance covers “Civil Unrest/War” to claim for non-refundable hotel bookings. Before you try to rebook, check the AirSewa portal for the latest Ministry advisories; if the MoCA hasn’t cleared the route, your “new” flight will likely be cancelled as well.
What’s Next
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is expected to hold a high-level review meeting at 10:00 AM on Monday. Then, look for “Special Evacuation Charters” to be announced if Indian workers in Qatar or Kuwait remain stranded for more than 72 hours. Finally, expect a massive spike in airfares for flights to the US and Europe via the “Pacific Route” (Singapore/Japan) as travellers abandon the “Middle East Hub” strategy.
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