Due to the recent uproar, flight schedules were disrupted worldwide. If you are planning on travelling, especially to the Middle East, here are some updates that you need to know.
As of March 6, 2026, in order to assist stranded passengers in the Gulf, while most regional airspace remains volatile, Indian airlines are gradually resuming limited operations.
Indian Airlines Have Begun Resuming Limited Flights
If you are wondering, are there any flights resumed of has the situation changed? We have the necessary information for you.
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IndiGo: Indigo is operating 17 departures (34 sectors) to eight Middle East destinations. This includes Jeddah, Muscat, and Athens. However, the airline requests passengers to wait for direct confirmation before heading to the airport.
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Air India: Air India has resumed services to Jeddah and Muscat, along with additional special flights planned. A high-capacity Boeing 777 service (Mumbai–Dubai–Delhi) is also said to be operational.
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Air India Express: Air India Express continues to schedule flights to and from Muscat. It has also added special services from Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kochi.
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SpiceJet: SpiceJet too is running multiple special flights from Fujairah (UAE) to Delhi and Mumbai in order to evacuate stranded passengers.
However, The Gulf Carriers Still Remain Largely Suspended
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Emirates has extended the suspension of most Dubai flights until March 7, operating only limited services for essential travel, according to the latest news.
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Etihad Airways is said to resume limited commercial schedule from Abu Dhabi as of March 6. Re-accommodating previously booked passengers is the priority.
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Qatar Airways sadly remains suspended however it is preparing to resume operations. Once the Qatari airspace reopens, updates will be expected.
Government & Airline Coordination
Yes, while all this is happening, our government is continuously coordinating with the respective authorities and the airline authorities too. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement, is coordinating with airlines and Indian missions abroad. Meanwhile, airlines like IndiGo and Air India are coordinating directly with the Indian consulates for passenger facilitation. This includes identity verification and boarding coordination. There are also Special relief flights being prioritized for medical evacuations and repatriation if conditions worsen.
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Passenger Safety Protocols
Amidst all the confusion, here are some protocols that passengers must be aware of and must follow for their betterment and safety. At Coverpage Media, we believe the greatest tool in times of distress is the right information and that is what we strive to give you.
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Passengers are advised to not go to the airport unless they receive official confirmation from their airline. This is very important.
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Travelers should carry hard copies of passports, visas, and Emirates IDs. Because the Gulf authorities are strictly checking documents before boarding.
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On arrival in India, passengers are expected to go through enhanced customs and immigration checks. This includes thermal scanning and digital disembarkation forms.
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Continuously check flight status online and keep contact details updated in your booking.
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Affected passengers can rebook free of charge or request a full refund for travel right up to March 10.
When Did The Disruption Begin?
Many are wondering when the disruption begin exactly? All this started on February 28, 2026. The Indian airlines started suspending flights due to airspace closures in West Asia. This was due to the military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran, and subsequent retaliatory actions.
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Air India and IndiGo were one of the firsts to issue advisories on February 28, suspending all flights to and from the Middle East.
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When the situation escalated over the weekend, 350+ Indian flights were cancelled on March 1, and this continued through March 2nd and 3rd.
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1,221 flights by Indian Airlines were cancelled due to the crisis as confirmed by The Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Finally, limited resumption of special and scheduled flights began on March 3rd and 4th, mainly only for evacuation purposes.
Here Are The Countries That Were Majorly Affected
While, many places were affected, the flight suspensions mainly affected these countires.
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United Arab Emirates (UAE) – All flights suspended initially and partial reopening began March 2nd–3rd.
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Saudi Arabia – Full suspension of inbound/outbound flights and limited resumption started from March 3rd.
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Qatar – Airspaces were closed and Qatar Airways suspended operations, still not operational.
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Israel – Complete airspace closure and won’t resume for a while.
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Iran – Total airspace shutdown and won’t resume for a while.
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Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, and Oman – Partial or full airspace closures as of now.
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Europe and North America – These were indirectly impact. As flights from India to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Toronto, New York, and Chicago were either canceled or rerouted due to all the airspace restrictions.
Indian airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air had suspended services to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Kuwait, and Bahrain until at least March 4th. Gradual resumptions starting only on March 3rd and 4th for some routes like Muscat and Jeddah.
Updates are coming in everyday, so passengers are requested again to keep checking their flight status and remain aware of the current situations as it directly affects their travel.
Just a reminder!
Passengers are advised to not go to the airport unless they receive official confirmation from their airline. This is very important. On arrival in India, passengers are expected to go through enhanced customs and immigration checks.
At Coverpage Media, we are always looking for updates so we can keep our readers updated too. We understand the anxiety and worry of fliers especially for these parts of the world. We urge everyone to stay safe and informed.
