As a result of ongoing tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, Air India has suspended flights from India to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 11:59 PM on Monday.
The disruption isn't limited to the Gulf; the airline has also had to axe several Europe-bound services scheduled for March 2. These cancellations, affecting routes such as Delhi–Zurich and Amritsar–Birmingham, are a direct result of the "no-fly zones" currently blanketing much of the Middle East.
At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the mood is one of frustration as hundreds of passengers find themselves stranded. The airport has seen roughly 100 flights — 60 departures and 40 arrivals — cancelled so far. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has fared even worse, reporting 125 cancellations, while Tiruchirappalli has seen over 30 services called off since Sunday.
It is a similar story for other major carriers. Air India Express has been forced to cancel more than 110 flights, while Dubai-based Emirates has halted all operations until 3 pm local time on Monday. In Qatar, Hamad International Airport remains effectively at a standstill following the total closure of the country's airspace.
The chaos follows the targeted military strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian sites, which prompted a swift shutdown of airspace across Iran, Iraq, and several neighbouring states. While some long-haul flights to North America are still running, they are being rerouted — often with technical stops in cities like Rome — adding hours to already long journey times.
Airlines are urging anyone with travel plans to stay glued to their flight status pages, as schedules are currently changing by the hour depending on the security situation on the ground.
Also read: Iran Revolutionary Guard's headquarters decimated: US
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