Hundreds Of Passengers Trapped Around UAE Today As Emirates, Air India, British Airways, Air France, Flydubai, And Others Cancel 1,107 And Delay 1 At Dubai, Disrupting Jeddah, Riyadh, Mumbai, Istanbul, London and More

Published on March 3, 2026

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Hundreds of passengers were grounded in UAE today as Dubai International Airport (DXB) recorded 1,107 flight cancellations, marking one of the most severe operational breakdowns in recent memory. The worst-hit airlines include Emirates (464 cancellations, 97%), Flydubai (339 cancellations, 99%), IndiGo (27 cancellations, 100%), SpiceJet (21 cancellations, 100%), Saudia (20 cancellations, 83%), Air India (19 cancellations, 95%), Air India Express (17 cancellations, 85%) and Flynas (17 cancellations, 89%).
Other major international carriers such as British Airways, Air France, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic also reported cancellations.
Airports most impacted by the disruption include Dubai International Airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport, King Khalid International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Hamad International Airport, and Istanbul Airport.

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• Update today: 1,107 cancellations and 1 delay were recorded at Dubai International Airport.
• Emirates alone accounted for 464 cancelled flights, the highest among all airlines.
• Flydubai followed with 339 cancellations, representing near-total schedule suspension.
• Several airlines including IndiGo, SpiceJet, British Airways, Air France and Singapore Airlines reported complete cancellation of scheduled DXB services.
• Major international hubs across Saudi Arabia, India, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Turkey were heavily affected.
• Long-haul services to Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East experienced widespread disruption.

Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays

Emirates

The Dubai-based carrier saw 464 flights cancelled, representing 97% of its scheduled operations at DXB today. No delays were reported, indicating near-total operational suspension rather than staggered departures.

Flydubai

Flydubai recorded 339 cancellations (99%), with its short-haul and regional network across the Middle East, South Asia and Eastern Europe significantly disrupted.

IndiGo

India’s largest airline reported 27 cancelled flights (100%), affecting key India–Dubai connections including services linked to Mumbai and Delhi.

SpiceJet

SpiceJet cancelled 21 flights (100%), halting its scheduled Dubai operations entirely for the day.

Saudia

Saudi Arabia’s national carrier recorded 20 cancellations (83%), impacting connectivity between Dubai and Jeddah and Riyadh.

Air India

Air India cancelled 19 flights (95%), significantly disrupting India–UAE travel flows.

Air India Express

The low-cost subsidiary reported 17 cancellations (80%), affecting multiple Indian regional gateways.

Flynas

Flynas registered 17 cancellations (89%), disrupting Saudi–UAE traffic.

British Airways

The UK flag carrier reported 6 cancellations (100%), suspending its Dubai–London Heathrow operations for the day.

Air France

Air France also recorded 6 cancellations (100%) at Dubai International Airport (DXB), impacting Paris to Dubai services.

What Can Affected Passengers Do?

• Check airline websites and official social media channels for rebooking options and alerts.
• Contact customer service for refund or alternate travel arrangements.
• Monitor airport announcements before traveling to the airport.
• Keep digital and printed copies of tickets and payment confirmations.
• Check travel insurance coverage for cancellation-related compensation.
• Avoid arriving early at the airport without confirmed flight status.

Overview of Flight Disruptions

The scale of disruption centered on Dubai International Airport (DXB), where more than a thousand flights were cancelled. Emirates and Flydubai bore the largest operational impact, while international carriers including British Airways, Air France, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines also faced service suspensions.
Air connectivity between Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Mumbai, Delhi, London, Doha, and Istanbul was heavily affected today. Countries including the United Arab Emirates, India, the United Kingdom, and Qatar saw major interruptions to scheduled passenger movements, besides Saudi Arabia,.
Long-haul routes connecting Dubai with cities across Europe, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia were widely impacted, with numerous airports reporting complete cancellation of scheduled services.
The concentration of cancellations — with virtually no recorded delays — shows a large-scale operational halt rather than minor scheduling disruptions, affecting both regional and intercontinental travel networks throughout the day.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware