Air India and its budget carrier, Air India Express, announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Dubai amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The announcement came hours after a drone strike reported near the Dubai airport triggered a fire on Monday.
Air India said the decision followed the temporary suspension of all flight operations at Dubai International Airport.
The airline added that “passengers can either reschedule their flights for another date or cancel their booking and get full refund.”
It, however, clarified that Air India Express’ ad hoc flight operations to and from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah would continue as announced.
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An Emirates flight that departed for Dubai from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala at 4.40 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026, returned to Thiruvananthapuram following the closure of the Dubai International Airport and landed back here at 8.40 a.m.
The escalating conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran has significantly disrupted flight operations due to airspace closures in the West Asia region.
Replying to a supplementary query during Question Hour, the Minister asserted that the safety of airline operations is the topmost priority.
Regarding the cancellations that have happened because of airspace closure in West Asia, almost till now, in a cumulative, Indian carriers have cancelled up to 4,335 flights, and foreign carriers have cancelled up to 1,187 flights,” Mr. Naidu said.
Stating that the safety of the operations is the topmost priority during this crisis, the Minister said there is no reason for us to operate in this area when the airspace itself is closed.
Mr. Naidu said the Aviation Ministry and the DGCA, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, are in constant communication with the regulators in those specific countries.
Xinhua/NAN
