Iran–Israel conflict: International flights cancelled at Chennai airport as Middle East crisis

CHENNAI: As tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, Chennai International Airport witnessed significant disruption to its international operations on Tuesday, with at least 30 inbound and outbound flights cancelled over a 24-hour period.According to official data from the airport on 3 March, 15 arrivals and 15 departures to and from key hubs, including Kuwait (KWI), Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), and Abu Dhabi (AUH), were cancelled due to the ongoing geopolitical conflict. Most of the affected services were operated using Airbus A320, A321neo, and Boeing 787 aircraft. The sector sees heavy passenger traffic from migrant workers, business travellers, and families.

Airport sources confirmed that the disruptions were directly linked to airspace restrictions, precautionary rerouting measures, and operational uncertainties arising from the conflict. Travel agents in the city said there had been a surge in enquiries, particularly from families awaiting relatives returning from West Asia. Airport officials have advised passengers to check with their respective airlines for real-time updates before heading to the airport.