UAE airport restrictions disrupt India flights; flight schedule changes for Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo

Flight operations between India and the United Arab Emirates faced disruptions on Saturday after airport authorities in the UAE issued fresh operational restrictions, forcing Indian carriers to scale back services for the day.Following the latest instructions from UAE airport authorities, both Air India and Air India Express announced on their X account (4:56AM, March 15) that they would curtail several ad-hoc flights scheduled for March 15, affecting services to major UAE hubs. The post reads, “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.

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According to the airlines, only one return flight between Delhi and Dubai will be operated by Air India for the day, while four of the five planned Dubai flights have been cancelled due to the restrictions.Air India Express has also scaled back its operations significantly. The airline will operate just one Delhi–Dubai return flight, while five of the six scheduled flights to Dubai have been cancelled.Flights to Abu Dhabi have been affected more severely, with Air India Express cancelling all five of its scheduled services to the UAE capital.

However, the airline said some operations to other emirates are expected to continue. Services to Sharjah are planned from several Indian cities including Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, flights between Ras Al Khaimah and the Kerala cities of Kozhikode and Kochi are also expected to operate.The airlines clarified that these flights will operate subject to slot availability and prevailing conditions at the time of departure.Passengers whose flights have been cancelled or temporarily suspended have been offered the option to rebook their journey for a later date without additional charges or opt for a full refund.Both carriers expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to travellers, stating that the curtailment of flights was due to operational constraints beyond their control. The airlines also said they remain committed to assisting affected passengers and working to bring stranded travellers back home as soon as possible.Meanwhile, IndiGo has also announced changes to its flight schedules due to the evolving situation in the Middle East and the restrictions imposed at Dubai airport. The airline said operations to and from Dubai have been affected, and passengers have been advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Their post on X (3:29 AM, March 15) reads, “Update: Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations have been further restricted in Dubai, leading to changes in flight schedules.

Customers travelling to/from Dubai are requested to check their flight status at http://bit.ly/31paVKQ before leaving for the airport. We are also sending out notifications to keep customers informed of the latest updates.”

IndiGo said it remains in close coordination with relevant authorities as it works to progressively rebuild its flight network across the Middle East and select European routes while monitoring the evolving regional situation.The disruptions come as several airlines continue to monitor the evolving situation in the region, with schedules likely to be adjusted depending on airport instructions and operational conditions.