Air travel across India faced major disruption on Monday as escalating tensions in the Middle East, involving Iran, the United States and Israel, forced airlines to cancel or delay multiple services. Widespread airspace restrictions across parts of the Gulf triggered precautionary suspensions and rerouting of flights.
At Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, authorities confirmed 48 cancellations, largely affecting international flights to Gulf destinations along with some domestic sectors impacted by aircraft rotations. Passengers were seen waiting at airline counters seeking rebookings and refunds.
In Kempegowda International Airport, at least 24 flights were cancelled, primarily services connecting Bengaluru to Middle Eastern cities. Some Europe-bound flights were also rescheduled because they normally transit through affected air corridors.
Similar scenes unfolded at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Indira Gandhi International Airport, where passengers travelling to destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Riyadh experienced last-minute cancellations and delays. Kochi airport also reported stranded flyers after Gulf-bound services were disrupted.
Aviation officials said the cancellations were precautionary following advisories warning of potential risks in parts of Middle Eastern airspace. With some countries temporarily restricting overflights, airlines opted to suspend operations rather than risk safety concerns.
The disruption had a cascading impact on domestic schedules as aircraft assigned to international routes were grounded, causing knock-on delays across networks.
Airlines have urged travellers to check flight status updates before heading to airports and to use official communication channels for rebooking options. With geopolitical tensions continuing, further disruptions remain possible if airspace restrictions persist.