Quick summary
IndiGo canceled 97 flights to West Asia destinations including Dubai, while Air India plans to operate 80 services on affected routes as Middle East airspace tensions force widespread disruptions. Lufthansa suspended flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi through March 15, and Philippine Airlines canceled Manila-Doha, Manila-Dubai, and Manila-Riyadh services through March 17. Over 37,000 flights have been canceled region-wide since the conflict began, affecting 4 million passengers across Gulf hubs.
Iranian drone strikes hit airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Air India’s 80-service plan has no confirmed start date, and broader suspensions remain in effect across multiple carriers.
Travelers with bookings through Gulf hubs face the largest Middle East air travel disruption since COVID-19, with Indian carriers leading the cancellation wave.
IndiGo pulled 97 flights to West Asia destinations as airspace restrictions tightened around Dubai and other Gulf airports. The budget carrier — India’s largest by domestic market share — operates extensive connections from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, making the cancellations a significant blow to India-Gulf business and leisure traffic.
Air India announced plans to operate 80 services on affected routes, though no start date has been confirmed and the airline has not specified which routes will receive priority. The carrier’s wide-body fleet gives it operational flexibility that IndiGo’s all-narrowbody operation lacks, but the plan remains aspirational until airspace restrictions ease.
Which airlines have suspended Gulf services
Lufthansa suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Dammam through March 15, with subsidiary services to Tel Aviv halted until April 2. KLM canceled Dubai flights through March 28 due to slot constraints and crew repositioning limits — empty airspace over the UAE, Qatar, and Israel means no through-traffic to reposition aircraft efficiently.
Philippine Airlines canceled three route pairs: Manila-Doha (PR684/685), Manila-Dubai (PR658/659), and Manila-Riyadh (PR654/655) through March 17. British Airways halted Oman repatriation flights after completing its initial evacuation wave.
The 37,000 cancellations since the conflict began dwarf the Russia-Ukraine war’s impact on Asia-Europe routing — that closure forced longer flight paths but left Gulf hubs operational. This time, the hubs themselves are the disruption zone.
| Airline | Routes affected | Suspension period | Passengers impacted |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | India-Dubai, India-Abu Dhabi, India-Doha | Ongoing | 97 flights canceled |
| Lufthansa | Europe-Dubai, Europe-Abu Dhabi, Europe-Amman, Europe-Dammam | Through March 15 | Data pending |
| Philippine Airlines | Manila-Doha, Manila-Dubai, Manila-Riyadh | Through March 17 | 6 daily flights |
| KLM | Amsterdam-Dubai | Through March 28 | Data pending |
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How this compares to past disruptions
The 37,000 cancellations since the conflict began approach COVID-19 pandemic peaks, when entire fleets were grounded for months. The Russia-Ukraine war closed significant airspace but affected fewer hub airports — carriers like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific added 90–120 minutes to Europe routes by skirting Russian airspace, but Dubai and Doha remained fully operational as connection points.
This disruption is different. Gulf hubs handle the majority of India-Europe and Southeast Asia-Europe connecting traffic — when Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha go offline simultaneously, there is no spare capacity in the system to absorb the displaced passengers. European hubs like Frankfurt and Amsterdam are already operating near slot limits, and adding 6–12 hours to a journey via Europe makes many itineraries commercially unviable.
For context on how airspace closures reshape Asia travel, the Russia overflight ban forced carriers to redesign their Asia-Europe networks — but that was a routing problem, not a hub closure problem.
Immediate steps for affected travelers
Gulf hub connections are high-risk through mid-March — airlines are canceling with 24–48 hours’ notice, and airspace status changes hourly.
- Check your PNR status now: Use IndiGo’s app (goindigo.in) or Air India’s site (airindia.com) to confirm whether your flight is operating. Do not wait for email notifications — they often arrive after rebooking windows close.
- Request rerouting via Europe: If your Gulf connection is canceled, ask for rebooking through Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or London. Expect 6–12 additional hours and possible overnight layovers — but a longer route beats no route.
- Monitor real-time airspace: Flightradar24.com shows which corridors are active. If you see no traffic over the UAE or Qatar, your flight will not operate regardless of what the schedule says.
- Claim EU261 if eligible: European travelers on EU-originating flights can file for rebooking or refunds through airline portals, even if compensation is not owed. US and Australian travelers have no statutory rights but should request goodwill waivers.
- Avoid new Gulf bookings: Do not purchase tickets routing through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha until airspace reopens. Promotional fares mean nothing if the flight does not operate.
Watch: Air India’s 80-service plan will signal whether the carrier sees a near-term reopening — if those flights do not materialize by March 20, expect suspensions to extend into April.
Questions? Answers.
Will I get a refund if my Gulf flight is canceled?
Yes — all airlines are required to offer a full refund for canceled flights, regardless of the reason. EU passengers on EU-originating flights also have the right to rerouting under EU261, though compensation is not owed when the disruption stems from military action. US and Australian travelers should request refunds or rebooking through airline customer service — most carriers are waiving change fees for affected routes.
Can I reroute through a different hub if my Dubai connection is canceled?
Yes, but availability is extremely limited. European hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London are absorbing displaced Gulf traffic, but they operate near slot capacity and cannot handle the full volume. Request rerouting immediately when your flight is canceled — waiting 24 hours often means no seats remain. Expect longer journey times and possible overnight layovers.
Are Gulf hub flights safe to book for April or May travel?
Not yet. Lufthansa’s suspensions extend to April 2 for Tel Aviv routes, and no carrier has confirmed when normal operations will resume. Airspace restrictions depend on military activity, not airline schedules — a booking made today could be canceled tomorrow. Wait until at least three consecutive days of normal flight operations before purchasing new tickets routing through the Gulf.
What happens if I’m already in the Middle East and need to leave?
Contact your airline immediately for the next available evacuation or repatriation flight. British Airways completed its initial Oman evacuation wave, but most carriers are operating ad-hoc services based on demand. US travelers should monitor travel.state.gov for government-coordinated departures. Do not wait for your original return flight — it will likely be canceled.
