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
