India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) reported that 350 flights operated by Indian carriers were cancelled on 1 March 2026 after multiple Gulf states closed airspace in response to escalating US–Israel–Iran hostilities. The disruption affected long-haul routes to Europe, North America and East Africa, forcing airlines to detour via the Arabian Sea or temporarily ground wide-body aircraft. Delhi IGI Airport alone scrubbed 100 departures, while Mumbai recorded 125. Air India and IndiGo issued blanket waivers: passengers holding tickets booked on or before 28 February for travel up to 5 March could re-schedule or seek full refunds at no extra cost. SpiceJet cancelled 33 UAE rotations and Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways diverted or delayed services. For corporates, the knock-on effects include stranded project teams, missed cargo connections and elevated travel costs as fares on alternative routings surged 40 %. Risk managers should update traveller-tracking dashboards and verify that emergency assistance providers can secure hotel rooms near Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where diversions concentrated. MoCA emphasised that a Passenger Assistance Control Room is coordinating with airlines and airport operators, and that further advisories will follow if the regional security situation deteriorates.
Source: The Economic Times
