Air travel in West Asia is severely disrupted. Major airlines like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have cancelled around 1600 flights. Indian carriers IndiGo, Air India and Akasa also cancelled 350 flights. Cancellations extend to Monday as airlines assess safety in the war zone.
Air travel remained severely crippled across West Asia, from the UAE to Israel, with around 1,600 flights cancelled by regional airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways till Sunday evening across all global routes. Indian airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa cancelled 350 flights during th day, according to the aviation ministry. Most airlines have already announced cancellations till Monday. Resumption depends on when carriers deem flights in the war zone safe. Late Sunday, however, Air India announced that flights to North America and Europe will operate via alternative routes over available airspaces in West Asia, which is expected to add to flight times.
In a statement, it added, “Flights to New York and Newark will operate with technical stops in Rome.” Pakistan's airspace is closed to Indian carriers; they can't fly to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the CIS to the west, the route followed by Lufthansa and other Western airlines. Air India cancelled around 125 international flights to and from the West on Sunday. The Tatas-owned carrier made it clear that it has extended suspension of flights ot and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 11.59 pm on March 2. “Additionally, select flights to Europe scheduled on March 2 have been cancelled along with the scheduled return legs of these flights.
In a statement, it added, “Flights to New York and Newark will operate with technical stops in Rome.” Pakistan's airspace is closed to Indian carriers; they can't fly to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the CIS to the west, the route followed by Lufthansa and other Western airlines. Air India cancelled around 125 international flights to and from the West on Sunday. The Tatas-owned carrier made it clear that it has extended suspension of flights ot and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 11.59 pm on March 2. “Additionally, select flights to Europe scheduled on March 2 have been cancelled along with the scheduled return legs of these flights.
IndiGo also announced the suspension of select international flights serving the West Asia airscape until March 2 2026 11.59 pm IST. For most airlines, the priority is to get aircraft and crew stuck at foreign airports back home. Air India completed that task for its wide-body aircraft on Sunday and is looking to operate Europe, the UK and North America via the oceanic route, with fuelling stops in Vienna or Rome, through Oman’s south, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Ditto on the way back. Abu Dhabi has taken an exceptional step by asking its hotels to extend guests' stays due to flight cancellations. “The cost of the extended stay will be covered,” the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT said in a circular.
Some stranded Indians are looking at taking a direct flight from the UAE to Muscat and then flying home from there. However, the Indian embassy in Muscat issued an advisory on Sunday that a prior visit/tourist visa evisa is required to enter" Oman.” Indians holding a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, Canada, Japan, or the Schengen countries can apply for an on-arrival visa, it said.
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