Indian Airlines cancelled around 350 flights on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Air India also suspended 20 additional long-haul services to European cities like London, Zurich, Milan, Frankfurt, and Copenhagen.
Indian Airlines Suspend flight services
The cancellations contribute to the total halt of flights by all Indian airlines to 11 countries in West Asia. This suspension follows air strikes in the region due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the U.S. against Iran. An urgent advisory from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in effect till March 2.
On the same day, Air India announced 20 more flight cancellations across Europe. This brought the total number of its cancelled long-haul and ultra-long-haul services, not including Gulf flights, to 48. Earlier, 28 cancellations affected routes to the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Travellers stranded at airport
As travelers were left stranded at major transit airports, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) declared that the government would cover all accommodation and meal costs for the affected passengers. Indian Airlines ensures essential services continued despite the flight suspensions.
Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi instructed hotels to accommodate guests who not leave due to the disruptions. In Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism issued a directive to hotel managers, asking them to let affected guests extend their stay under the same terms as their original bookings. In Abu Dhabi, officials took it a step further by confirming that the government would pay for accommodation costs for stranded guests, as per local media reports.
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