New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Global aviation chaos deepened on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as Indian airlines were forced to cancel 350 international flights due to escalating hostilities in the Middle East. This marks the second consecutive day of massive operational disruptions following the closure of critical airspaces over Iran and several Gulf nations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the “Ghost Skies” phenomenon has now grounded over 760 domestic carrier flights in just 48 hours, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai.
According to a Ministry post on X at 16:34 hours, the 350 cancellations on Sunday followed an even more dire projection earlier in the day, which had anticipated up to 444 cancellations. This comes on the heels of February 28, when 410 flights were pulled from schedules. The primary transit corridors between India and Europe, as well as direct routes to the West Asia, have been severed as carriers like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet avoid high-risk zones. At Delhi and Mumbai airports alone, at least 225 arrivals and departures were scrapped on Sunday, leading to crowded terminals and mounting frustration among travellers.
Major airlines have issued extended suspension notices as the security situation remains fluid. Air India Express and IndiGo have both extended the suspension of select international flights—specifically those to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—until at least 23:59 hours IST on March 2. SpiceJet reported that 33 of its flights to and from the UAE were among those cancelled today. To mitigate the impact on passengers, Air India and Air India Express are offering full refunds or one-time rescheduling waivers for bookings made on or before February 28 for travel up to March 5.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated it is “closely coordinating with airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders” to monitor the geopolitical developments and provide necessary support to affected citizens. While some analysts suggest a potential “Russia pivot” for flight routing if the conflict drags on, the immediate focus remains on passenger safety and managing the massive backlog created by the shuttered airspaces. With Iran observing 40 days of national mourning and Israel continuing its aerial campaign, the resumption of normal flight operations in the region remains uncertain.
