Air India, IndiGo cancel flights to West Asia amid UAE airport restrictions Several domestic airlines suspended flights to the Gulf region on March 15 due to restrictions at UAE airports amid escalating tensions in West Asia. Services to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi were heavily impacted. Air India and Air India Express canceled multiple flights to the region, while IndiGo halted operations to Dubai. The Air India group cited instructions from UAE airport authorities as the reason for the cancellations. “In view of the latest instructions from Airport Authorities in the UAE, Air India and Air India Express are compelled to curtail their ad hoc operations for 15 March 2026,” the airline stated. Air India operated only one Delhi–Dubai return flight, while four of its five planned Dubai flights were canceled. Air India Express also canceled five of its six Dubai flights and all five flights to Abu Dhabi. The airline announced plans to resume services to Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram, as well as routes between Ras Al Khaimah and Kozhikode and Ras Al Khaimah and Kochi. These flights would depend on slot availability and conditions during operation. Passengers affected by the cancellations were offered options to reschedule travel without additional charges or receive full refunds. The airline stated it was working to assist stranded passengers in returning home as soon as possible. IndiGo also canceled flights to and from Dubai, attributing the changes to airspace restrictions linked to the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. “Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations have been further restricted in Dubai, leading to changes in flight schedules,” the airline said.#dubai #air_india #indi_go #abu_dhabi #uae_airports
IndiGo CEO resigns, months after mass flight cancellations Pieter Elbers, the chief executive officer of IndiGo, has resigned from his position, stepping down three months after the airline faced widespread flight disruptions. The announcement was made on March 10, 2026, with Elbers citing personal reasons for his departure. A copy of his resignation letter, shared on stock exchanges, stated that he was submitting his resignation effective immediately, with a request to waive the notice period. The airline’s promoter, Rahul Bhatia, has been appointed as interim manager to oversee operations during the transition. This follows a period of significant operational challenges for IndiGo, which had previously experienced a major disruption in its flight schedule. In November and December 2025, over 5,000 flights were canceled, impacting more than six lakh passengers. The cancellations sparked widespread concern and criticism, with many travelers expressing frustration over the scale of the disruptions. The airline’s struggles have raised questions about its ability to manage its expanding network. IndiGo, India’s largest airline by fleet size, has been growing rapidly, but the recent setbacks highlight the complexities of maintaining operational stability. Industry analysts have pointed to factors such as increased demand, staffing issues, and logistical challenges as potential contributors to the disruptions. Elbers’ resignation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the airline’s performance. While IndiGo has been a dominant player in the Indian aviation sector, the recent events have tested its reputation for reliability. The interim leadership under Bhatia will now focus on restoring customer confidence and addressing the root causes of the disruptions.#flight_cancellations #pieter_elbers #rahul_bhatia #indi_go #indi_go_ceo
IndiGo's Interim Boss Addresses Employees After CEO's Resignation Rahul Bhatia, the airline's managing director, took interim charge following the resignation of CEO Pieter Elbers and addressed employees in an internal message. In a communication titled "Main Hoon Na," Bhatia apologized for the December 2025 crisis, which led to widespread flight cancellations and delays. He stated, "What happened last December should never have taken place. Our customers didn’t deserve it, nor did all of you, especially frontline employees who bore most of the brunt for no fault of theirs." Bhatia acknowledged the challenges faced by staff during the crisis, expressing gratitude for their efforts to restore operational stability. He emphasized that the company’s frontline workers had "carried the company’s cross with grace and dignity" and called them the "living spirit of IndiGo." The use of the phrase "Main Hoon Na," referencing the 2004 Bollywood film, was interpreted as a reassurance to employees that Bhatia would remain a steadfast leader during the transition. The leadership change followed a regulatory backlash against IndiGo for failing to implement new pilot rest rules and maintain operational buffers. The airline’s parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, announced the board had taken note of Elbers’ resignation, which came three months after the December disruptions. The crisis prompted a government investigation, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) criticizing the airline for inadequate preparedness. A four-member inquiry committee identified several factors contributing to the disruptions, including over-optimization of operations, weak software systems, and insufficient management oversight.#interglobe_aviation #pieter_elbers #rahul_bhatia #indi_go #dgca
