Air India has canceled 28 flights connecting various cities in Europe, US and Canada as of March 1 due to the evolving situation in the Middle East.
With several closed airspaces, it is difficult for airlines to find alternative routes, especially for flights to the West.
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“As part of our ongoing assessment of the evolving situation in the Middle East for the safety and security of our guests and employees, Air India has canceled the following flights scheduled for March 1, 2026,” the airline said in a post on X on Saturday.
See the full list of canceled flights:
Air India has canceled the following flights scheduled for March 1, 2026:
AI161/AI162 and AI111/AI112: Delhi-London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)-Delhi
AI129/AI128: Mumbai-London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)-Mumbai
AI169/AI170: Amritsar-London (Gatwick) / London (Gatwick)-Amritsar
AI101/AI102: Delhi-New York (JFK) / New York (JFK)-Delhi
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AI119/AI116: Mumbai-New York (JFK) / New York (JFK)-Mumbai
AI191/AI144: Mumbai-Newark / Newark – Mumbai
AI127/AI126: Delhi-Chicago / Chicago-Delhi (via Vienna)
AI187/AI188 and AI189 and AI190: Delhi-Toronto / Toronto-Delhi (via Vienna)
AI2025/AI2026: Delhi-Frankfurt / Frankfurt-Delhi
AI2027/AI2028: Mumbai-Frankfurt / Frankfurt-Mumbai
AI143/AI142 and AI147/AI148: Delhi-Paris / Paris-Delhi
Flights from these destinations to the respective Indian cities have been canceled from March 1.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share further updates based on our risk assessments,” the airline said.
Four flights from Kolkata to the Middle East have been cancelled
Flight operations between Kolkata and several Middle Eastern destinations were disrupted on Saturday, with four departures canceled due to heightened tensions following the joint US-Israeli military action against Iran, officials said, as reported by PTI.
An official at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport said the cancellations were due to operational problems at transit hubs across the region.
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The canceled flights included Emirates EK 573 to Dubai, Qatar Airways QR 541 to Doha, Air Arabia 3L 167 to Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways EY 221 to Abu Dhabi, the officials added.
Akasa Air provides consultancy
Akasa Air is issuing a travel warning, in a post on X, the airline wrote: “Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, all Akasa Air flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh have been suspended until March 2, 2026. We will continue to update the status of our flight to these destinations based on the current situation.”
For all bookings made to/from these cities till March 7, 2026, passengers can opt for a full refund or rescheduling at no additional cost, he added.
The Consul General of India in Saudi Arabia met the representatives of the airlines
India’s Consul General in Jeddah on Saturday convened a virtual meeting with representatives of Indian airlines amid continued air travel disruptions caused by escalating regional tensions.
During the meeting, Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri urged carriers to provide comprehensive assistance to Indian nationals affected by the travel disruption in Saudi Arabia, the Consulate General of India said in a social media post.
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“Airlines have assured that necessary measures are being taken, including timely communication regarding flight cancellations, dedicated helplines for updates and queries, facilitating refunds and other assistance to passengers,” it said.
The Consulate General also provided links to official updates issued by airlines, including Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air.
“Indian nationals affected by the travel disruption are also advised to approach the Consulate General of India in Jeddah for assistance,” he further said.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways temporarily suspended their flight operations, while Turkish Airlines canceled flights to several destinations across the Middle East, Reuters reported.
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, announced it was suspending all flights to Iran until further notice, the state news agency said, Reuters reported.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- Air travel disruptions are directly related to geopolitical tensions.
- Airlines prioritize passenger safety and provide support for disabled passengers.
- Being informed through official channels is essential during travel disruptions.
