Indian carriers are likely to cancel about 444 overseas flights on Sunday as airspace curbs over Iran and other parts of the Middle East force airlines to rethink their plans, the civil aviation ministry said.
The ministry also said officials met on Saturday to assess how airlines and airports are prepared for disruptions following flight cancellations related to the recent Israeli and US strikes on Iran.
In a post on X early Sunday morning, the ministry said: “Due to airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East, 410 domestic carrier flights were canceled on February 28 and 444 flights are expected to be canceled on March 1.
The aviation regulator, DGCA, said it was working closely with airlines to ensure strict adherence to safety and operational standards.
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Major airports have also been put on operational alert to handle possible flight diversions and ensure smooth passenger services.
According to the ministry, passenger support, airline coordination and crowd management at the terminals are under constant supervision, with senior officials stationed at the site. She added that the Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) actively monitors passenger issues and ensures speedy resolution of complaints.
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said AirSewa, its digital grievance redressal platform that allows passengers to file and track complaints as well as check real-time flight information, received 216 complaints during the period. 105 of them were resolved in the same time frame.
“As on February 28, AirSewa recorded 216 complaints and 105 complaints were resolved during the same period, ensuring the necessary support to affected passengers. All stakeholders are working together to ensure proper handling of affected passengers and timely assistance to all affected passengers,” the post said.
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Which Air India flights have been cancelled?
Air India has announced that it has canceled a number of long-haul international flights scheduled for March 1 as it continues to assess the security situation in the Middle East following US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran. The affected routes include key destinations such as London, Chicago, Toronto, New York and Paris.
The move expands earlier suspensions, which were largely limited to flights to destinations in the Persian Gulf.
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,” an Air India spokesperson said.
“AI161/AI162 and AI111/AI112: Delhi-London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)-Delhi; AI129/AI128: Mumbai-London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)-Mumbai; AI169/London (Heathrow)-Delhi: Amritsar-Gaton (Gatwick)-Amritsar: Delhi-New York (JFK) / New York (JFK)-Delhi; AI127/AI126: Delhi-Chicago / Chicago-Delhi (via Vienna) and AI189: Delhi-Toronto / Toronto-Delhi (via Vienna); Frankfurt-Mumbai AI143/AI148: Delhi-Paris / Paris-Delhi”;
Qatar Airways update
Qatar Airways has suspended all flights from Doha, canceling 41% of its total scheduled flights, according to data from Cirium. It said its flight operations would resume on March 1 at 19:00 Doha time, according to a post on X.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is responding
Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Riyadh said that all Indian passengers stranded in Saudi Arabia due to travel disruption can contact the embassy on various helpline numbers.
“Any Indian passenger in Saudi Arabia facing travel disruption due to airspace closure or flight cancellation can contact the embassy through our various 24/7 hotlines. Various Indian air carriers have assured that necessary measures are being taken to help stranded Indian passengers…” he said on X.
The embassy asked passengers to follow the updates issued by the respective airlines.
The development comes amid rising geopolitical tensions following military strikes by Israel and the United States on targets in Iran. Tehran has also launched attacks in the region, reportedly targeting US military bases. The escalating conflict has prompted the temporary closure of airspace in parts of West Asia, prompting airlines around the world to reassess routes that typically operate through or near the affected areas.
(With input from agencies)
