Indian airlines cancel 350 flights to West Asia and beyond

Indian airlines cancelled around 350 flights on Sunday (March 1, 2026), with Air India suspending 20 additional long-haul services to European destinations, including London, Zurich, Milan, Frankfurt and Copenhagen.

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The cancellations add to the complete suspension of flights by all Indian carriers to 11 countries in West Asia, following air strikes in the region in the wake of the war between Israel-U.S. and Iran and an urgent advisory issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) valid until March 2.

Air India on Sunday (March 1, 2026) announced 20 additional flight cancellations across Europe, taking the total number of its long-haul and ultra-long-haul services, over and above the Gulf flights, scrapped for the day to 48. This includes 28 earlier cancellations affecting routes to the U.S., Canada and Europe.

As air travellers were left stranded at some of the world’s biggest transit airports in the region, the UAE’s aviation regulator, General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that the State would cover all accommodation and sustenance costs for the affected and stranded passengers, ensuring continued provision of essential services as flights remained suspended, according to Khaleej Times.

Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have instructed hotels to accommodate guests unable to depart due to the disruption.

In Dubai, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism issued a formal directive to hotel managers, asking them to allow affected guests to extend their stay on the same terms as in their original bookings.

In Abu Dhabi, authorities issued a parallel order that goes a step further, confirming that the government would bear the accommodation costs for stranded guests, according to local media reports.

The Embassy of India in Muscat, Oman issued a public notice informing that Indian citizens in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE), who hold valid resident cards, were eligible for a visa on arrival, enabling them to enter Oman and seek temporary shelter.

The advisory added that Indian passport holders with a valid visa or residence permit from the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Japan and Schengen countries are also eligible for a visa on arrival, allowing entry into Oman for up to 10 days without a pre-arranged visa.

Other travellers may apply for an e-visa through an authorised travel agency.