357 flights cancelled amid Middle East crisis; 559 passenger grievances resolved, says aviation ministry

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry on Monday said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East as widespread airspace closures continue to disrupt international operations.

A total of 357 flights scheduled for operation on Monday were cancelled due to the ongoing crisis triggered by the Israel-Iran conflict, which has led to restrictions across several Gulf airspaces.

The ministry said passenger concerns are being tracked through the Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR), with grievances addressed on priority. So far, 559 complaints have been resolved through the AirSewa portal, social media platforms and dedicated helpline numbers, in coordination with airlines and other stakeholders.


Indian carriers have been forced to suspend or reroute multiple services to destinations across the Gulf region after several countries shut their airspace following military escalation in West Asia. The disruptions have affected both outbound and inbound international traffic over the past few days.

Air India travel advisory

Passengers have been advised to check official airline communication channels for updates on cancellations and rescheduling. For assistance, travellers can contact the ministry’s PACR helplines at 011-24604283 and 011-24632987.

In a travel advisory issued on Monday, Air India said it is closely monitoring and assessing the evolving situation in the Middle East and has commenced scheduled operations to all its destinations in the USA, Canada, Europe and the UK, prioritising the safety and security of customers and crew.

The airline said, “In view of the continued closure of multiple airspaces over the Middle East, Air India has extended the temporary suspension of all its flights to and from the region up until 2359 Hrs (IST) of 3 March 2026.”

It added, “Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers impacted by the suspension of flights to the Middle East and is committed to assisting them with alternative arrangements and options of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling.”

The advisory further stated, “We encourage you to check your flight status on airindia.com or contact our 24/7 support team at +911169329333,+911169329999 for more information. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”