Air travel across the Middle East has been severely disrupted after India’s major carriers, Air India and IndiGo, announced the suspension of all flights to the region amid escalating military hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The decision follows widespread airspace closures triggered by rapidly deteriorating security conditions, forcing airlines to halt operations as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.
IndiGo stated that due to evolving airspace restrictions around Iran and neighbouring regions, all flights to and from Middle Eastern destinations would remain cancelled until midnight. Air India issued a similar suspension notice after one of its flights bound for Tel Aviv was compelled to turn back mid-journey when regional airspace was abruptly closed. SpiceJet also warned passengers that several of its services could be affected, particularly because of airspace restrictions impacting Dubai operations.
The disruptions come amid a sharp escalation in conflict, with coordinated strikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel targeting locations in Tehran and other parts of Iran, including facilities linked to senior leadership and military infrastructure. Iranian forces have responded with retaliatory missile strikes, including attacks directed at Israeli targets and US military bases across the Gulf region, intensifying fears of a broader regional conflict.
Delhi Airport issued an advisory cautioning travellers that international flights heading westward may face delays, diversions or cancellations as airlines reroute aircraft to avoid unsafe air corridors. The crisis has also triggered a global aviation response, with multiple international carriers suspending or modifying services across the region. Qatar temporarily halted all air traffic as a safety measure, while Lufthansa suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Amman until early March. Oman Air paused operations to Baghdad, and flydubai reported disruptions following the closure of Iraqi, Iranian and Israeli airspace.
Russian airlines have likewise suspended flights to Israel and Iran, while Air France cancelled scheduled services to Tel Aviv and Beirut. Iraq’s Erbil Airport also announced a complete suspension of air traffic. The cascading shutdown of regional airspace has affected not only direct routes to conflict zones but also long-haul international flights that normally transit through Middle Eastern corridors, creating widespread uncertainty for global aviation networks as the situation continues to evolve.
