As airspace closures and flight cancellations continue to disrupt travel across the Middle East, airlines around the world are taking steps to help passengers stranded in the region. From refunds to flexible rebooking options, several measures have been introduced to ease the pressure on travelers trying to return to their home countries.Now, Indian airline IndiGo has extended a complete waiver on flight cancellations for passengers traveling to and from the Middle East and Istanbul, Turkey, as regional volatility continues, according to a statement issued by the airline on Friday.
War between Israel and Iran: Air India, IndiGo and global airlines suspend their flights amid airspace closure in West Asia
Free cancellation waivers will be in place till March 31, 2026, with IndiGo participating. It also advised customers to continue checking updates regarding the status of their flights on the IndiGo website and social media channels.
“Full exemption from cancellations for travel to and from the Middle East and Istanbul has been extended until March 31, 2026,” IndiGo said in a statement. The airline said it is closely monitoring developments across the affected region and sharing real-time updates on the above channels. The airline said it remains strongly committed to prioritizing the safety and security of its passengers, crew and aircraft.
Previous disorders
Previously, IndiGo had canceled more than 500 flights to the Middle East and other selected destinations from February 28 to March 3 due to airspace restrictions over Iran and other Gulf regions. “Our operational teams are constantly assessing evolving regional developments, recalibrating flight schedules, and planning repatriation operations in coordination with relevant authorities in India and relevant international jurisdictions, with the aim of minimizing disruption to passengers,” the filing said.
Regional aviation impact
The ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel has significantly disrupted aviation throughout the Middle East. According to a Bloomberg report, at least 27,000 flights to the region have been canceled since the beginning of the crisis.Of the nearly 51,600 flights scheduled to and from the Middle East since February 28, more than half have been cancelled.Major Gulf airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai and Air Arabia, have resumed restricted operations with a limited number of flights to help stranded passengers. Travelers have been urged to check flight status before heading to airports as timetables continue to change rapidly.