Air India, IndiGo cancel flights as Iran crisis shuts key air routes

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran has led to extensive airspace closures and flight disruptions that are significantly affecting travel to and from India, officials and airline sources said.

As a result, Indian carriers and international airlines have been forced to cancel, divert or suspend multiple flights, prompting operational alerts at major airports across the country.

A surge in cancellations has hit Indian aviation hard, with carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa Air suspending services to destinations in the Middle East amid safety concerns over closed airspace and regional hostilities.

According to aviation authorities, over 170 flights from India have been cancelled since the conflict escalated, effectively bringing operations in key corridors to a standstill.

At Mumbai airport, at least 57 flights were cancelled by Feb 28 evening, including long-haul services to London, New York and other international destinations, with a knock-on effect on connections across Europe and North America.

Several flights at Amritsar Airport were also disrupted, including a SpiceJet flight to Dubai called back mid-air after refuelling and an IndiGo flight diverted to Surat, airport officials said.

Passengers bound for Gulf destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Riyadh have been left stranded at both Indian airports and hubs in the Middle East, as temporary airspace closures remain in effect.

Multiple international flights are either being rerouted or held, with operational help desks set up at airports such as Ahmedabad’s SVPI Airport to assist affected travellers.

In some cases, flights have been forced to turn back mid-flight or divert to alternate airports, while others face hours-long delays because conventional routes through West Asia remain inaccessible due to the conflict.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has advised airlines to remain on high operational alert and closely monitor airspace advisories and safety bulletins, classifying parts of West Asia as high-risk zones for civil aviation.

Airlines themselves have issued travel advisories urging passengers to check the status of their flights, remain in regular contact with operators and expect schedule changes as the situation evolves.