Middle East crisis disrupts air traffic
Air India scraps 50 services; 444 international flights to be cancelled
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: As many as 225 international flights were cancelled at Mumbai and Delhi airports on Sunday as airlines grappled with widespread operational disruptions triggered by the escalating Middle East crisis and the subsequent closure of airspaces in the Gulf region.
Of the 225 flights, 125 flights were cancelled at Mumbai airport and at least 100 flights at Delhi Airport, sources say. A source said 60 international departures and 40 arrivals were cancelled at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, reflecting the growing impact of airspace restrictions on overseas travel.
Against this backdrop, Air India cancelled 22 more international services for Sunday, taking the total number of overseas flight cancellations announced so far to 50. The Tata Group-owned airline said close monitoring and careful assessment of the evolving situation in the Middle East have necessitated further curtailment of its scheduled operations.
Indian airlines are expected to cancel 444 international flights on March 1 due to airspace restrictions in the Middle East, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry. Due to similar restrictions over Iran and parts of the region, 410 flights of domestic carriers were cancelled on February 28.
“Due to the evolving political situation in the Middle East, west-bound international flights may experience disruptions or schedule changes,” Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said in a post on X. DIAL operates IGIA, the country’s largest airport, handling over 1,300 flight movements daily.
In a post on X, aviation regulator DGCA said major airports remain on operational alert to manage potential diversions and ensure seamless passenger facilitation. Passenger assistance, airline coordination and terminal crowd management are being closely monitored, with senior officials deployed on the ground. The Ministry’s Passenger Assistance Control Room continues to monitor passenger concerns and facilitate prompt redressal.
DGCA said airlines have been directed to ensure timely rerouting or diversion of flights, wherever required, strictly in accordance with global safety protocols and established contingency planning procedures.
