India’s aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Saturday issued an urgent advisory, asking all Indian airlines to avoid flying through West Asian and Arabian Gulf airspace following escalation in military tensions in the region. It warned of a “major escalation in security risks” after the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran
This warning followed the Conflict Areas Information Bulletin issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) following the military strikes.
“This advisory is effective immediately and remains in effect until 02 March 2026, unless revised or replaced by further developments. Operators are requested to acknowledge receipt of this message and confirm that their flight planning departments are updated accordingly. Safety remains our top priority,” the DGCA said.
The regulatory body warned of the presence of advanced weapons, including all altitude-capable air defense systems, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and military air assets. She said there was a high probability of “spillover” risks such as misidentification of civilian aircraft, misjudgment, or failure of military interception procedures.
The DGCA said the high-risk areas cover all altitudes and flight levels within multiple FIRs, including Tehran, Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Oman, Beirut, Kuwait, Jeddah, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Doha and Muscat.
In line with international safety standards and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) circular, the DGCA has advised Indian operators to refrain from operating within the affected airspace at all flight levels. Airlines have been asked to closely monitor flight information publications and updated notifications to pilots issued by relevant countries and national authorities.
All flight operations at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International have been suspended until further notice. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights. We appreciate the cooperation of our guests. Further updates will be provided as we continue to monitor the situation,” a post on X said.
The closure of airspace in Dubai and West Asia led to the cancellation of at least 57 flights from Mumbai and 27 flights from Delhi. Indian airlines canceled at least 179 flights to and from West Asia between Saturday and the early hours of Sunday after closing Dubai and parts of regional airspace.
Air India has canceled 31 flights across key sectors, including 16 to Dubai, six to Jeddah, six to Doha, two to Dammam, and one to Riyadh. Two flights were canceled in Dubai.
IndiGo reported the biggest impact, with 72 flights cancelled. Two planes were in the air but were operating safely. Two flights were diverted to India. “At least eight IndiGo aircraft are still stationed in West Asia. Air India Express has canceled 110 flights on Saturday and Sunday, with all en route services returning to India. Five aircraft have been grounded in Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Muscat,” an official said.
SpiceJet canceled 13 flights, most of them on the Dubai sector, including an extension until March 1. Acasa Air canceled eight flights on Doha, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi routes. All cancellations were precautionary, with no aircraft in the air towards the closed airspace. Officials said up to 130 crew members were stranded in West Asia on Saturday.
IndiGo’s travel advisory noted the evolving situation around Iran and West Asia, and said flight operations to and from the region and other selected international sectors have been suspended until March 1. “We understand the impact this may have on your travel plans and are deeply sorry for the inconvenience. We hope you understand that this decision was made as a proactive precaution.”
The airline said it is offering full flexibility and exemptions for travel to and from West Asia and selected international sectors until March 7, applicable to bookings made on or before February 28. “Customers can choose to receive a full refund or reschedule at no additional cost.”
The airline has asked passengers to stay updated on flight status. “Explore options to rebook or claim a full refund online. Make sure to update your contact details to receive timely notifications. We remain in close coordination with aviation authorities and monitoring the situation around the clock. We will resume services as soon as safe flight corridors are available.”
Air India Express has extended the suspension of its westbound international flights until March 1. “We are working closely with the relevant authorities and will resume services as soon as conditions allow.” She said that guests who booked flights to and from the Gulf region through February 28 for flights scheduled through March 5 can reschedule their travel to a future date without any date change fees, or cancel their reservations and receive a full refund to the original payment method.
