Middle East conflict prompts 700+ flight cancellations; India routes, fares hit

Airspace closures across several Middle Eastern countries triggered widespread cancellations and rerouting. On March 1, about 716 flights in the region were canceled, following nearly 1,800 the previous day. Indian carriers and airports experienced significant impacts, including 444 cancellations on March 1 and 410 on February 28. Mumbai recorded 57 cancellations and Hyderabad over 50 in a day, while fares on key international routes surged. Airlines adjusted routings with technical stops, and authorities coordinated passenger support and operational measures.

Flight operations across key Middle Eastern and Indian corridors have been heavily disrupted following airspace closures in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Israel amid an escalating conflict. Airlines reported mass cancellations and extensive rerouting of services.

On March 1, approximately 716 scheduled flights in the Middle East were canceled, adding to nearly 1,800 cancellations the previous day. In India, over 444 flights were expected to be canceled on March 1, after 410 cancellations on February 28. Airlines have extended suspensions to destinations in the Gulf, the Middle East, Europe, and North America while safety concerns persist.

Multiple carriers were affected. Regional operators included Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways, while Indian airlines impacted included Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express. Air India rerouted select long-haul services to North America and Europe via European paths with technical stops in Rome and Vienna. IndiGo suspended certain international flights using West Asia airspace until at least March 2, offering full refunds and flexible rebooking through March 7. Akasa Air and Air India Express also suspended services to Gulf destinations.

Airports across India experienced notable disruptions. At Mumbai Airport, 57 flights were canceled by late Saturday, with increased congestion and parking constraints limiting further diversions. International destinations affected included London, New York, Chicago, Paris, and Toronto. One-way fares on impacted routes rose to around ₹1.4 lakh. In Hyderabad, more than 50 flights were canceled in a single day, particularly on routes to Europe and the UAE. Airfares increased by 200–300%, with one-way fares to London reaching ₹65,000–₹90,000, and U.S.-bound itineraries (via Addis Ababa) around ₹1.5 lakh. Airlines revised routings from Hyderabad as well, including technical stops (e.g., Rome) on U.S.-bound trips.

Indian authorities, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA, initiated mitigation measures. Major airports were placed on operational alert, with senior officials deployed to manage terminal congestion and assist passengers through the AirSewa platform. Travelers were advised to check flight status regularly and utilize available rebooking and refund options.

Airlines also face financial strain. Indian carriers are estimated to incur direct revenue losses of about ₹500 crore from cancellations, in addition to higher operating costs from detours, fuel burn, technical stops, and reduced cargo capacity. Timelines for a return to normal operations remain uncertain.