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SpiceJet Cancels 87 Flights as UAE Airspace Closure Disrupts Travel

SpiceJet has cancelled 87 flights, primarily affecting routes between India and the UAE cities of Dubai and Sharjah, due to ongoing airspace closures. The disruption is part of wider regional flight suspensions as tensions escalate in West Asia. While Dubai Airports has announced a limited resumption of operations, airlines like Akasa Air and Oman Air have extended cancellations for several routes. Passengers are being advised not to proceed to airports unless they have received confirmed rebooking notifications from their airlines.

Key Points: SpiceJet Cancels 87 Flights Amid West Asia Tensions

  • 87 SpiceJet flights cancelled
  • UAE airspace closure cited as cause
  • Emirates begins limited flight resumption
  • Multiple airlines suspend Gulf routes
2 min read

SpiceJet cancels 87 flights amid West Asia tensions: Source

SpiceJet cancels 87 flights from Delhi due to UAE airspace closure. Emirates resumes limited ops. Passengers advised to check status.

"Passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority. - Emirates"

New Delhi, March 2

SpiceJet has cancelled as many as 87 flights on Monday, including 37 departures and 50 arrivals at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, as UAE airspace closures continue to disrupt flight operations amid escalating tensions in West Asia, airport sources confirmed.

According to the Delhi Airport source, the cancellations affect multiple SpiceJet services operating between Indian cities and Dubai and Sharjah on March 2 and 3. Flights from Dubai to Pune, Mumbai, Amritsar, Calicut, Madurai, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Delhi have been cancelled. Services from Sharjah to Ahmedabad have also been impacted.

Similarly, departures from Mumbai, Amritsar, Madurai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Kochi and Calicut to Dubai and Sharjah have been called off due to ongoing airspace restrictions. The airline cited the closure of UAE airspace as the primary reason behind the disruptions.

Meanwhile, Dubai Airports on Sunday confirmed a limited resumption of operations beginning this evening, March 2, with a small number of flights permitted to operate from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Passengers have been advised not to proceed to the airports unless directly contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

In a post on X, Emirates said it will begin operating a limited number of flights from the evening of March 2, prioritising customers with earlier bookings. The airline stated that only passengers who have been rebooked and notified should travel to the airport, while all other flights remain suspended until further notice. Emirates added that it continues to monitor the situation and will update its schedule accordingly, reiterating that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.

Akasa Air said its flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh remain suspended for March 3, 2026. The airline is offering full refunds or free rescheduling for bookings made to or from these cities until March 7, with eligible refunds processed within seven days. Passengers have been urged to check flight status before heading to the airport.

Meanwhile, Oman Air announced the cancellation of all flights on March 3 to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen and Baghdad due to ongoing regional airspace closures. Other services are operating, though delays are possible.

The partial reopening in Dubai comes hours after major carriers including IndiGo and Qatar Airways suspended or extended flight cancellations amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
It's a tough situation for the airlines too. Can't blame SpiceJet entirely when the UAE airspace is closed. Hope the tensions ease soon. Many families depend on these Gulf routes for work and visits.
A
Aman W
Good to see Akasa Air offering full refunds or free rescheduling. That's the kind of customer-centric approach we need. Other airlines should follow suit and not just issue credit shells.
S
Sarah B
My heart goes out to all the passengers stranded. The article says not to go to the airport unless contacted—please, everyone, follow that advice to avoid more chaos at the terminals.
V
Vikram M
This shows how interconnected we are. Tensions in West Asia directly hit flight schedules in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi... It's a reminder of global instability's local impact. Hope for peace and normalcy soon.
K
Kavya N
While safety is paramount, I do feel the initial communication from the airlines could have been faster and clearer. Many found out via news or social media, not direct SMS/email. That needs improvement.

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