Significant Flight Cancellations by Indian Airlines Amid Middle East Tensions

Flight Cancellations Due to Airspace Restrictions

New Delhi, Mar 1: Due to airspace limitations in the Middle East, Indian airlines are projected to cancel 444 international flights this Sunday, as reported by the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Air India has declared an additional 22 international flight cancellations for March 1, raising its total to 50 amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

The airline, owned by the Tata Group, stated that ongoing monitoring and assessment of the regional situation prompted the need for further reductions in scheduled flights.

The flights affected today include routes such as Mumbai to London (AI131/AI130), Delhi to Birmingham (AI113/AI118), Delhi to Amsterdam (AI155/AI156), Delhi to Zurich (AI151/AI152), Delhi to Milan (AI137/AI138), Delhi to Vienna (AI153/AI154), and Bengaluru to London Heathrow (AI133/AI132).

Other impacted services consist of Delhi to Copenhagen (AI157/AI158), Delhi to London Heathrow (AI2017/AI2018 and AI2015/AI2016), and Delhi to Frankfurt (AI2029/AI2030), as noted by the airline on social media.

The ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran has resulted in numerous airspace closures throughout the Middle East, significantly affecting global flight operations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working closely with airlines to ensure adherence to safety and operational protocols.

IndiGo has not provided any immediate updates regarding its international flights for Sunday.

In light of the worsening security situation and the resulting travel disruptions, India has advised foreign nationals currently in the country to seek assistance for visa extensions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a notice encouraging foreign nationals impacted by flight cancellations to reach out to their nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for help.

"All foreign nationals in India who have had to alter their travel plans due to the current developments in the West Asia region and require assistance with visa extensions or regularizing their stay are encouraged to contact the nearest FRRO," the MEA stated, adding that FRROs will provide necessary support.

It remains unclear how many foreign nationals are currently stranded in India as a result of these cancellations.

Numerous flights have been disrupted across the Middle East and beyond, including in India, following airspace restrictions after the US and Israel initiated attacks on Iran on Saturday.

Iranian state media reported early Sunday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack.