Problems in the Middle East have made airlines and the people who control flying change their timetables, and start a few flights again – but as safety and airspace are still issues, travel is being disturbed. Air India has prolonged the stopping of flights to places in the Middle East, but has started flying again to the main places in North America and Europe. Passengers are seeing some flights cancelled, special flights to help, and airports starting to open again, bit by bit.
Air India will not run flights to or from the Middle East until 23:59 IST on March 3, 2026, the airline stated.
The extension is because of airspace which is still closed and troubles in the area. The airline also said it has begun to run its usual flights to the USA, Canada, Europe, and the UK, and the safety of passengers and crew is the main thing. Passengers who are affected by the stopping of flights are being given full refunds or can have their tickets changed for nothing, and the airline has asked people travelling to check the status of their flight online, or by ringing its 24/7 help lines at +911169329333 and +911169329999.
357 international flights were cancelled on Monday because of the situation changing, said the people in charge of flying within the country. The biggest airports – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai – had over 300 flights cancelled, both arriving and leaving. A Passenger Assistance Control Room has been set up to deal with complaints and help with help. The officials said they had dealt with 559 complaints from passengers through the internet, phone lines, and working with airlines. Passengers have been told to use the official ways of getting information from the airline and to call the ministry’s help lines at 011-24604283 or 011-24632987 if they need help.
Some airlines in the Gulf have started running a few flights or special flights to get passengers who are stuck home, and to make some connections possible again. The people who run the airports in Dubai said that the terminals would open again, a little at a time, so that a small number of flights could leave from Dubai International and Dubai World Central. They told passengers not to go to the airports unless their airline had told them directly that their flight was going, and had given them details. Regional airlines – including those offering help and better seats – are working closely with embassies and the authorities to help people to return.
Indian airlines are doing different things to get services going again.
One airline was planning 10 special flights from Jeddah to several Indian cities to get people who were stuck home – but this depended on getting permission, and on the airspace being clear. Another airline said it would start flying to Muscat again, and would be one of the first to go back to the area after flights had been stopped. Some of the cheaper airlines are still stopping some flights to the Gulf, because things are still not certain. The airlines have said they are working with the people in embassies, and have told passengers to make sure their contact details are up to date so that they can be told about flights to help.
Passengers have been told by the authorities and the airlines not to go to airports unless they have been told to, and have clear instructions. Before going to the airport, check the airline’s official website and the ways of contacting them that you have registered. If your flight is affected, you can ask for your money back or to have your ticket changed for free, under the rules at the moment. If you are in the area, keep your travel papers and the contact details of the embassy handy. Keep an eye on what the airline tells you and on updates from the people in charge of flying, because the situation can change quickly.
The situation with flying is still changing as the officials are all the time looking at how safe the airspace is and making the safety of passengers the most important thing. Passengers should expect their timetables to be changed again and allow extra time for the flights to help to be put into effect. The best way to deal with the problems caused by the fighting which is still going on will be to stay informed through what the airlines tell you and the official help lines.
