Air India and Air India Express have canceled several flights scheduled to operate between India and West Asian regions on Sunday, 15 March, citing airport restrictions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The curbs forced both carriers to scale back some ad-hoc operations, which refer to additional flights that operate outside the regular schedule to manage higher passenger demand.
Meanwhile, IndiGo said it has canceled flights to and from Dubai due to ongoing airspace restrictions, linked to the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
IndiGo notifies flyers about disruptions
In a latest
“Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations have been further restricted in Dubai, leading to changes in flight schedules,” the carrier said.
The airline also said that it is sending out notifications to keep customers informed of the latest updates.
In a previous post, IndiGo also said that it remains in close coordination with the relevant authorities to progressively rebuild its flight network across the region, along with select routes to Europe.
Air India’s list of canceled flights
Air India issued an update on Sunday, noting that as per the instructions from the UAE Airport Authorities, the airline and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express are forced to curtain their ad‑hoc operations for 15 March 2026.
Air India will operate one return flight on the Delhi–Dubai route, while the remaining four of the five planned flights to Dubai have been cancelled.
Air India Express will also operate one return flight between Delhi and Dubai, with five of the six planned Dubai flights canceled due to the restrictions.
For Abu Dhabi, Air India Express has canceled all five scheduled flights for the day.
Meanwhile Sharjah operations will continue, with Air India Express planning to operate flights connecting Sharjah to Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
For Ras Al Khaimah, Air India Express will operate flights on the Ras Al Khaimah–Kozhikode and Ras Al Khaimah–Kochi routes.
“These flights will be operated subject to slot availability and condition prevailing during the time of operation,” Air India said in a statement.
The disruptions come as several airlines continue to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia, with schedules likely to be readjusted, depending on airport instructions and operational conditions.
