Thousands of Flights to Middle East Destinations Like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi Cancelled Amid Israel Iran Conflict, Causing Widespread Travel Chaos

Published on March 1, 2026

Image generated with Ai

Chennai, March 2026: In a dramatic turn of events, the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran have caused significant disruptions to flight operations at Chennai International Airport. With airspace restrictions and rising security concerns in West Asia, multiple international and domestic flights have been cancelled. The cancellations primarily affected passengers traveling to destinations in the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Muscat. The situation created chaos for travelers, many of whom were left stranded or forced to deal with sudden changes to their travel plans.

Image generated with Ai

1. Flight Cancellations on Saturday: A Ripple Effect Across Major Airlines

The disruption began on Saturday, with multiple airlines forced to cancel flights due to airspace restrictions in the Middle East, particularly in regions controlled by Muscat and Emirates. The following cancellations were reported:

• Oman Air’s Flight to Muscat: The Oman Air flight departing from Chennai at 2:20 PM was the first to face major disruptions. Due to airspace restrictions in West Asia, the flight was diverted back to Chennai and later cancelled.
• Qatar Airways Flight to Abu Dhabi: Qatar Airways’ Chennai-Abu Dhabi flight scheduled for 4:10 PM was cancelled.
• Etihad Airways Flight to Abu Dhabi: The 9:40 PM flight by Etihad Airways from Chennai to Abu Dhabi was also cancelled.
• Emirates Flight to Dubai: The Emirates flight scheduled for 9:45 PM faced a delay and was ultimately cancelled, contributing to growing frustration among passengers.
• Air India Flight to Dubai: Air India’s 6:45 PM flight to Dubai was cancelled. In response to the escalating tensions, Air India announced that all flights to destinations in the Middle East were suspended. Passengers were advised to stay updated via the airline’s official website.
• Indigo Airlines Cancellations: Indigo also followed suit, announcing the cancellation of several flights to West Asia, including their flights scheduled to depart for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. The cancellations lasted until Sunday afternoon.

As these cancellations unfolded, uncertainty loomed over passengers who had booked flights for later hours on Sunday, causing widespread confusion.

2. Sunday Cancellations: More Flights Affected Across the Middle East

The disruptions continued on Sunday, with an even larger number of flights cancelled, including some arriving from the Middle East. Here’s a summary of the flights affected until 8 AM on Sunday:

• Indigo Airlines:
  • Doha Flight at 3:40 AM: Cancelled.
  • Dubai Flight at 6:20 AM: Cancelled.
• Air Arabia:
  • Sharjah Flight at 3:45 AM: Cancelled.
  • Abu Dhabi Flight at 4:50 AM: Cancelled.
• Etihad Airways:
  • Dubai Flight at 3:55 AM: Cancelled.
• Emirates Airlines:
  • Dubai Flight at 3:50 AM: Cancelled.
• Qatar Airways:
  • Doha Flight at 4:05 AM: Cancelled.
• Gulf Air:
  • Bahrain Flight at 5:35 AM: Cancelled.
• Oman Air:
  • Muscat Flight at 7:20 AM: Cancelled.

In total, at least 14 flights were cancelled between Saturday and Sunday morning, impacting travelers bound for major Middle Eastern destinations. The airlines involved in these cancellations included major international carriers such as Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Air India, Indigo, and Air Arabia. This wide-reaching disruption affected thousands of passengers, with many flights cancelled within just a few hours of their scheduled departure time.

3. Causes of the Cancellations: Airspace Restrictions Amid Rising Tensions

The core reason for the mass cancellations stemmed from airspace restrictions imposed in West Asia as a result of the mounting tensions between Israel and Iran. A significant part of this airspace, particularly the flight information regions (FIR) controlled by Muscat and the Emirates, was closed to flights. According to sources, Muscat’s FIR did not allow flights into its airspace that were destined to exit into the Emirates FIR. This led to increased congestion, with flights from India and other regions being forced to return, causing delays and cancellations.

Muscat’s airspace was reportedly only accepting flights that would exit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, leading to further complications. This resulted in several outbound flights from India, including those to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, being rerouted or returned to Chennai. These airspace restrictions created a ripple effect, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the Middle East.

4. The Impact on Passengers: What Can Affected Travelers Do Now?

As the situation continues to unfold, passengers are advised to stay in close contact with their airlines for updates regarding cancellations and rebookings. Most airlines, including Indigo, Air India, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, have been proactive in communicating with passengers via email or text messages about flight status updates. Travelers are strongly encouraged to check their airline’s official website for the most current information.

In addition to cancellations, the Muscat airspace restrictions and flight congestion have left many passengers stranded at Chennai International Airport and other regional airports. Travelers whose flights were cancelled are advised to contact their airlines’ help desks for assistance with rebooking, as many carriers have already begun offering refunds or alternative flight options.

5. Conclusion: Ongoing Disruptions as Tensions Escalate

The ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the standoff between Israel and Iran, are expected to continue impacting flight operations across major airports in India, including Chennai. The airspace restrictions imposed by regional authorities have led to widespread flight cancellations and delays, causing significant inconvenience for passengers traveling to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, and Muscat.

As the situation evolves, passengers are advised to remain patient and stay updated on the latest developments. Airlines are working tirelessly to manage the disruption, but travelers should expect ongoing challenges as the geopolitical situation unfolds. For now, the best course of action is to remain in constant communication with airlines for real-time updates and assistance.

Countries Affected:

• UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
• Qatar (Doha)
• Oman (Muscat)
• Bahrain (Bahrain)

This disruption serves as a reminder of how rapidly geopolitical tensions can impact international travel, especially in airspace-sensitive regions like the Middle East.