In a major blow to air travel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Indian airlines grounded over 350 flights on Sunday, disrupting plans for thousands of passengers.
The cancellations, triggered by stringent airspace restrictions in the region, fell short of initial fears of 444 disruptions but still marked a significant upheaval in the aviation sector.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that February 28 saw 410 domestic flights axed due to the same crisis. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport bore the brunt with 100 flights halted, while Mumbai’s hub saw 125 cancellations, sources told PTI.
Major airports across the country have been placed on high alert, with senior officials on the ground to assist stranded travellers and manage potential diversions.
The ripple effects extended to international routes. Tata-owned Air India scrapped 22 more overseas services, pushing its total cancellations linked to the Middle East turmoil to 50. The carrier has prolonged the suspension of select flights until March 2 after a thorough risk assessment. Budget airline SpiceJet followed suit, axing 33 services to the United Arab Emirates on March 2. Global players like Lufthansa and Emirates also faced severe operational hits.
To ease the financial strain, IndiGo and Air India have rolled out passenger-friendly measures. IndiGo announced a full waiver on rescheduling or refunds for tickets booked before February 28, valid for travel up to March 7. Air India extended similar relief for bookings until February 28, covering journeys up to March 5.
As geopolitical shadows loom over the skies, travellers are urged to check updates and opt for flexible options.