- Flight Disruptions
- Air India and IndiGo cancel Middle East and Europe flights amid regional airspace closures
Air India and IndiGo cancel Middle East and Europe flights amid regional airspace closures
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By Matteo Floris
Last updated on 3 March 2026
350
Affected flights
2
Affected airlines
350
Affected flights
2
Affected airlines
What Happened
Air India and IndiGo have canceled and suspended multiple services after regional airspace closures affected key corridors.
Air India scrapped 28 flight segments from March 1, and paused flights to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar through March 2.
IndiGo canceled routes across West Asia and parts of Europe. By March 1, Indian carriers had canceled over 350 flights. Rerouting via northern paths is adding up to three hours, and some long-haul services require technical stops. Rebooking and refunds are being offered to affected passengers.
Flight Disruption Details
Regional airspace closures have triggered widespread flight cancellations and suspensions by Indian carriers.
Air India canceled 28 major flight segments scheduled from March 1, 2026, including flagship connections from Delhi and Mumbai to London, New York, Chicago, and Frankfurt.
The airline also suspended all services to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 23:59 IST on March 2. Affected customers are being notified and offered rebooking or refunds.
IndiGo canceled numerous services across West Asia and Europe. Impacted routes include Mumbai–London Heathrow; Delhi–Ras Al Khaimah–Istanbul; and flights to Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, Kuwait, Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Athens.
IndiGo is providing flexible rebooking and full refunds, with passengers advised to check official channels for live updates.
By March 1, Indian airlines had canceled over 350 flights as airspace closures over Tehran, Baghdad, Kuwait, Israel, and Iraq forced rerouting, delays, and technical diversions.
India’s aviation regulator issued an advisory on February 28 asking carriers to avoid the airspaces of 11 countries, including Iran, Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Oman, at least through March 2.
These restrictions have closed primary corridors through the Persian Gulf and key FIRs such as Baghdad, Doha, and Tehran.
Long-haul services from India to Europe and North America are particularly affected, with some routes no longer operable non-stop due to fuel range constraints on alternative paths.
Rerouting via regions such as Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan is adding approximately 90 minutes to three hours to flight times, increasing fuel use and complicating crew scheduling.
Specific Air India flights listed among the cancellations include:
Delhi–London Heathrow (AI161, AI162, AI111, AI112),
Mumbai–London (AI129, AI128),
Amritsar–London Gatwick (AI169, AI170), and
Delhi–New York JFK (AI101, AI102).
In isolated reports, some flights not traversing the impacted corridors continued operating, while others adopted technical stops such as Rome on New York-bound services.
Passengers on affected flights are being offered rebooking options and refunds.
Travelers should monitor their airline’s official communications for the latest status and instructions.
Know your rights
These are your air passenger rights
When your flight's disrupted, you may be entitled to various forms of care and compensation under EC 261 and other applicable laws.
Rerouting or refund
If your flight is canceled, your airline must provide an alternative. You may also get a full refund if you no longer wish to travel.
Care and assistance
Your airline must provide food and refreshments if your journey is delayed more than a few hours.
Accommodation
If you are away from home and your journey is delayed overnight, the airline must offer you accommodation and transportation to it.
Communication
Under EC 261 you are entitled to 2 phone calls or emails if your journey is delayed over 1 hour. No compensation when a disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances, as this appears to be.
This advice is provided to help you if your flight is delayed or canceled. However, the exact care and compensation you are entitled to will depend on your specific circumstances and flight. Always follow the directions of your airline, particularly with regard to check-in and boarding times.
Quick facts
Summary
Disruption
Delays and Cancellations
Cause
Other
Status
Current disruption
Compensation
Not eligible for compensation
Flights affected
350
Airlines affected
Air India, IndiGo
Start date
2026-03-01
End date
2026-03-02
Checked by
Matteo Floris
Date updated
3 March 2026
What To Do If Your Flight Is Cancelled
If you're traveling to or from the European Union, here's what to do when your flight is unexpectedly scrubbed:
Collect proof that your flight was canceled, e.g. boarding pass, vouchers and any other travel documents.
Get the airline to provide written confirmation of the cancellation and reasons behind it.
Request an alternate flight to your destination - or a refund.
Make a note of the arrival time at your destination.
Ask the airline to pay for your meals and refreshments.
Don't sign anything or accept any offers that may waive your rights.
Get the airline to provide you with a hotel room, if needed.
Keep your receipts if your canceled flight ends up costing you extra money.
