Flight Status, March 7: Indian Airlines Halt Gulf Operations Amid US-Israel-Iran War, Run Special Repatriation Flights

Last Updated:March 07, 2026, 12:03 IST

Indian carriers are among those hit hard, which has left travellers scrambling amid the Gulf airspace closures.

Air travel across the Middle East continues to be thrown into disarray as the escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran disrupts skies over key Gulf hubs. Since February 28, airports in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain have witnessed mass cancellations, which have affected thousands of passengers. The escalating tensions have prompted the airlines to reschedule or suspend flights.

Indian carriers are among those hit hard which has left travellers scrambling amid the Gulf airspace closures. Most of the flights towards these routes have been cancelled. At the same time, airlines are also offering waivers and repatriation flights.

Air India Express Adds Special Routes To India

Air India Express has cancelled select international flights amid ongoing disruptions in the Gulf airspace. But it is also operating additional services to help passengers reach India safely.

The airline has resumed all scheduled flights between Muscat and India, along with select routes from Jeddah. In addition, it is running extra flights connecting Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to India. Travellers are advised to check the airline’s website or contact customer care for updated schedules and to avail refunds or rescheduling options.

IndiGo Cancels Over 140 International Flights

IndiGo is cancelling more than 140 international flights on March 7. The airline is offering full waivers and refunds for affected passengers.

Air India Operates Limited Flights Amid Middle East Airspace Restrictions

Air India continues to operate flights on March 7, although disruptions persist due to ongoing airspace restrictions in the Middle East. The airline is running special, limited flights to major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Sharjah and Jeddah, with some schedules modified to ensure passenger safety amid the regional volatility. Priority is being given to repatriation services.

Meanwhile, long-haul flights to Europe and North America are generally operating normally, though certain services may follow alternative routes to avoid restricted airspace.

Major Indian Airports See Flight Disruptions Amid Middle East Tensions

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has heavily affected operations at several major Indian airports. At Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, 33 flights were cancelled on Friday due to airspace restrictions. Similarly, at Kolkata, flights to the Gulf were suspended after overnight strikes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai forced airlines to prioritise passenger safety even after a FlyDubai flight had landed briefly on Thursday.

Passengers have been directly impacted by these disruptions. Pradeep Reddy, who had planned to fly to Dubai to be with his daughter, told Deccan Herald: “My daughter is studying there, and she is only 19. We wanted her to come to India amidst all the chaos, but she is not able to since she has exams. So, I decided that I would go to Dubai to be with her. We did not want her to be scared and alone."

Meanwhile, at Mangaluru International Airport, Air India Express cancelled all scheduled international flights on March 7.

Gulf Route Chaos Forces Travellers To Seek Alternatives

According to Times Of India citing airline officials, the usual consistency and predictability of Gulf carriers has completely broken down due to the ongoing crisis. Many travellers heading to Europe, who would normally transit through Gulf hubs, are now booking direct flights on carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa and KLM to avoid the disrupted routes.

Similarly, passengers traveling to US are opting for flights via Southeast Asia on Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines as the Gulf airspace remains unstable.

But situation worsened for these carriers as well after a drone strike on Azerbaijan early Friday.

Ticket Prices Soar Amid Scarcity

The disruption has also caused a spike in airfare. Even as Gulf flights remain suspended, tickets are being sold at six to seven times the usual price, Times Of India reported. Travel agents attribute the surge to restricted airspace, large-scale cancellations and limited seat availability on international routes.

Middle East-based carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad, continue to operate only a few special flights due to airspace closure.

News india Flight Status, March 7: Indian Airlines Halt Gulf Operations Amid US-Israel-Iran War, Run Special Repatriation Flights

Read More