Quick summary
Akasa Air extended suspensions to Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait until March 21, 2026, while resuming Riyadh-Mumbai service March 18 and maintaining Jeddah flights to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kochi. IndiGo flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain grounded with no resumption date, and Qatar Airways operated only 5 non-scheduled flights to India on March 17, repatriating approximately 1,600 Indian nationals amid largely closed Qatar airspace. The UAE has barred all landings at Dubai International Airport following repeated Iranian attacks near the facility.
Dubai International handles 30% of Indian airlines’ international traffic — its closure forces travelers connecting via Gulf hubs to reroute through Istanbul, Rome, or Singapore. Qatar Airways will operate 9 flights to Indian destinations on March 18, but these remain non-scheduled relief operations, not regular service.
Indian carriers are extending Gulf route suspensions for the third consecutive week as the Middle East crisis forces incremental, day-by-day operational decisions. Akasa Air announced March 17 that flights to Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait will remain suspended until March 21, while IndiGo provided no timeline for resuming Dubai and Abu Dhabi service — only confirming that “impacted customers are being informed through updates sent to their registered contact details.”
The UAE’s decision to bar landings at Dubai International Airport eliminates the region’s busiest hub from the network. Iranian attacks have caused fires and explosions near the airport, making operations unsafe. For travelers with bookings through March 21 or beyond, this is not a temporary delay — it is a full suspension requiring rebooking or refunds.
Akasa Air will resume Riyadh-Mumbai flights starting March 18 and continues operating Jeddah routes to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kochi. Qatar Airways operated 5 flights to India on March 17 — two to Delhi, one each to Mumbai, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram — but these were non-scheduled repatriation flights, not regular service. The airline plans 9 flights to Indian destinations on March 18, though Qatar airspace remains largely closed.
Which routes are operating and which remain suspended
Akasa Air is taking a phased approach. Riyadh-Mumbai resumes March 18, and Jeddah connections to four Indian cities continue without interruption. Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait remain off the schedule until at least March 21, with the airline stating it will “progressively restore select services” based on safety assessments. The carrier’s March 17 update provided no indication when full Gulf operations will return.
IndiGo has not set a resumption date for Dubai or Abu Dhabi flights. The airline’s advisory notes that “flight schedules continue to change at short notice due to evolving circumstances,” and passengers are being notified via registered contact details. This is the same language the carrier used during the initial March 1–2 suspensions, which stretched into multi-week groundings.
Qatar Airways operated 1,600 passengers out of Doha on March 17 across five flights, according to the Indian Embassy in Qatar. The airline plans nine Indian destinations for March 18, but these remain non-scheduled relief operations — not the regular daily service that existed before the crisis. Qatar airspace is largely closed, and only limited flights are being approved on a case-by-case basis.
| Carrier | Route | Status | Resumption date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akasa Air | Riyadh–Mumbai | Resuming | March 18 |
| Akasa Air | Jeddah–Ahmedabad/Bengaluru/Mumbai/Kochi | Operating | Ongoing |
| Akasa Air | Abu Dhabi/Doha/Kuwait | Suspended | March 21 earliest |
| IndiGo | Dubai/Abu Dhabi | Suspended | No date set |
| Qatar Airways | Doha–Delhi/Mumbai/Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram | Non-scheduled relief flights | Day-by-day approvals |
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Why Dubai’s closure changes the math for Indian carriers
Dubai International Airport handles 30% of Indian airlines’ international traffic — more than any other foreign hub. The UAE’s decision to bar landings eliminates not just a connection point, but the primary gateway for Indian carriers serving Europe, North America, and Africa. When Dubai closed during the initial March 1–2 strikes, Indian carriers cancelled 180 daily flights. This time, the closure is indefinite.
The DGCA directed Indian carriers to avoid 11 Flight Information Regions — including UAE, Qatar, Iran, and Israel — until at least March 2, with extensions ongoing. Airlines are now operating under rolling 3–5 day approvals, making schedule planning impossible. Akasa Air and IndiGo are announcing resumptions in 24–48 hour windows, not weekly or monthly blocks.
Iranian attacks near Dubai International have caused fires and explosions, forcing the UAE to prioritize safety over connectivity. For travelers, this means Gulf hub connections are not “delayed” — they are unavailable. Rebooking through Istanbul, Rome, or Singapore is the only option for trips departing before March 21, and possibly beyond.
What to do if your flight is affected
Gulf hub closures are forcing airlines to issue rolling updates — here is the priority order for protecting your trip.
- Check your booking status now: Log into your airline’s app or website. Do not rely on email notifications — IndiGo and Akasa Air are sending updates to registered contacts, but delivery is delayed by 12–24 hours.
- Request a refund or reroute within 24 hours: Akasa Air is offering rebooking to Jeddah or Riyadh routes at no additional cost. IndiGo is issuing full refunds for Dubai and Abu Dhabi cancellations. Call the airline’s hotline — do not wait for the airline to contact you.
- Reroute via Istanbul or Singapore: Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines are the most reliable alternatives for Gulf-avoiding routes. Book directly through the airline to ensure schedule changes are communicated immediately.
- Monitor DGCA advisories: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation updates FIR avoidance directives every 3–5 days. Check the DGCA website for extensions beyond March 21.
Watch: DGCA’s next FIR avoidance extension — expected by March 20. If the directive is extended beyond March 21, it means Gulf suspensions will stretch into April. If lifted, expect rapid resumption of Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights within 48 hours.
Questions? Answers.
Will Qatar Airways resume regular scheduled service to India?
Qatar Airways is operating non-scheduled relief flights on a day-by-day approval basis. Qatar airspace remains largely closed, and the airline has not announced a return to regular daily service. The Indian Embassy in Qatar reported 5 flights on March 17 and 9 flights planned for March 18, but these are repatriation operations, not commercial schedules. Regular service depends on Qatar reopening its airspace, which has no confirmed timeline.
Can I rebook my Dubai connection through another Gulf hub?
No. Abu Dhabi and Doha are also suspended or operating limited relief flights only. Akasa Air extended suspensions to Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait until March 21, and IndiGo has no resumption date for Abu Dhabi. The only operating Gulf routes are Jeddah and Riyadh with Akasa Air. If your original booking was via Dubai, reroute through Istanbul, Rome, or Singapore — not another Gulf hub.
How long will it take for Gulf hub operations to fully resume?
The initial March 1–2 suspensions took weeks to partially restore, and full Gulf operations did not return until mid-March. This round of closures is more severe — Dubai International is barred from all landings due to Iranian attacks, not just airspace avoidance. Even if the DGCA lifts FIR restrictions on March 21, airlines will need 5–7 days to restore schedules. Expect limited service through early April, with full capacity returning mid-April at the earliest.
