Middle East Crisis: Indian Airlines Cancel 350 Flights, Refund Process Initiated

The ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and subsequent airspace restrictions have Notably impacted the Indian aviation sector, while on Sunday, March 1, Indian airlines were forced to cancel over 350 flights. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), these cancellations were necessitated by safety concerns and operational hurdles within the Middle Eastern airspace. While initial projections suggested that up to 444 flights might be affected, the final count of cancellations remained at 350, providing a slight reprieve to the overall network.

Operational Impact on Major Hubs: Delhi and Mumbai

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has highlighted that the international crisis has most severely affected the country's busiest aviation hubs. At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, approximately 100 flights remained grounded. Similarly, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport saw the cancellation of 125 flights. Officials noted that this follows a day of significant disruption on February 28, when 410 domestic flights were cancelled. To manage the passenger influx and provide necessary assistance, senior officials have been deployed at major airports, and all facilities have been placed on 'operational alert' to handle any unexpected flight diversions smoothly.

International Flight Disruptions and Air India's Response

The crisis extends beyond domestic routes, deeply affecting international connectivity. Air India, owned by the Tata Group, announced the cancellation of 22 additional international services for Sunday. This brings the total number of foreign flights cancelled by Air India due to the Middle East crisis to 50. The airline has extended the suspension of select international flights that work with Middle Eastern airspace until March 2. According to airline management, these precautionary measures were taken after a close assessment of the security situation to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.

Operational Status of SpiceJet and Global Carriers

In addition to major carriers, other Indian and global airlines are facing operational challenges. SpiceJet has cancelled 33 flights between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) scheduled for March 2. Global giants such as Lufthansa and Emirates have also seen their operations severely hampered, with many flights being rerouted or cancelled entirely. The closure of key air corridors has resulted in increased flight durations and operational costs. The Ministry and airline operators are in constant communication to monitor the evolving situation and resume normal operations as soon as the airspace is deemed safe for transit.

Refund and Rescheduling Policies for Passengers

To mitigate the financial burden on thousands of affected passengers, Indian airlines have introduced flexible booking policies. Both IndiGo and Air India have announced provisions for full refunds or free rescheduling for passengers travelling to or from the Middle East. IndiGo stated that a full waiver will apply to tickets booked on or before February 28 for travel scheduled up to March 7. Similarly, Air India has offered these facilities for bookings made by February 28 for travel dates up to March 5. Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through official airline channels before proceeding to the airport.