Middle East Crisis Forces Airlines to Cancel Flights; India Activates Helplines

With the crisis widening in the Middle East, most airlines have renewed suspensions of flight operations to and from countries in the region. The Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) at the Ministry of Civil Aviation is working round the clock to monitor and address traveler queries received through social media platforms, the AirSewa portal, and dedicated helplines on priority basis. In a coordinated effort with airlines and airport operators, the Control Room has been actively guiding and assisting affected passengers as the situation evolves.

In a statement on X, the ministry said: “In coordination with airlines and airport operators, the Control Room has resolved 411 passenger grievances during the ongoing situation, ensuring timely assistance and support. Helpline numbers provided by Indian Embassies were also actively shared with passengers through the PACR to enable necessary coordination.” Passengers can reach out to the ministry through its official social media platforms, the AirSewa portal, or by calling our helpline numbers: 011-24604283 / 011-24632987.

Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 2359 hrs IST on 2 March 2026. The airline also cancelled a few Monday’s flights to Europe, along with their scheduled return legs. These cancellations include AI117: Amritsar to Birmingham; AI151/AI152: Delhi to and from Zurich; AI157/AI158: Delhi to and from Copenhagen; AI114: Birmingham to Delhi.

Alongside the airline suspensions, Gulf airspace closures and related curbs are expected to impact schedules, with hundreds of flights affected across the domestic network and major airports keeping a heightened alert to manage diversions and crowd flow. Authorities say they are constantly monitoring the evolving situation and will adjust operations as needed to minimize disruption while prioritizing passenger safety.

Ministry and carriers reiterate that travellers should check AirSewa and the official channels for the latest updates, and use the helpline numbers for urgent assistance or to coordinate travel plans as the situation develops.

#AirTravel #MiddleEastCrisis #FlightAlerts