Hundreds of Flights Cancelled at Indian Airports Over Middle East Closures

Hundreds of international flights were cancelled at major Indian airports on Sunday, March 1, as airspace closures across the Middle East disrupted operations following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.

The cancellations affected passengers at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, and Chennai's airport, according to airport officials and the Civil Aviation Ministry. At Delhi, sources reported 100 flights impacted, including 60 departures and 40 arrivals. Mumbai saw 125 cancellations by 2:30 p.m., comprising 67 departures and 58 arrivals. Several Emirates flights from Chennai to destinations like Dubai and other Middle Eastern cities were also grounded as a precaution amid safety concerns over restricted airspaces.

The disruptions stemmed from widespread closures in the Gulf region and over Iran, forcing airlines to reroute or suspend services. Domestic carriers anticipated cancelling 444 international flights for the day, the ministry stated in a social media update. This followed 410 such cancellations on February 28 due to similar restrictions. Air India, for instance, announced 22 additional...