Passengers stranded at Beirut airport (AP photo)

Flight operations worldwide have been largely affected by the constantly evolving situation in the Middle East, triggered by the joint US-Israel attack on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and strong retaliation from Tehran. The exchange of missile strikes amid escalating tensions has made the skies unsafe for aviation, leading to widespread flight cancellations as several Gulf nations shut their airspace. Airports in Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates have also closed their airspace.The disruption followed joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israel and US military installations in the Gulf. The military campaign has continued after Khamenei’s death, with both the US and Israel striking Iranian military sites.Iran in return, has fired missiles and drones at Israel, US bases in the Gulf region, and other regional targets.

Key transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi handle major traffic between Europe, Asia and Africa. Airlines operating through West Asia can be diverted over Saudi Arabia or use longer oceanic routes, leading to delays and higher costs. More than 2,800 flights were cancelled across the Middle East on Sunday, according to Flight Aware. Around 1,600 flights were cancelled by West Asian carriers alone. In India, nearly 350 flights were cancelled during the day. Delhi airport reported 100 cancellations, while Mumbai reported 125. Tiruchirappalli airport also saw multiple cancellations.

Air India

Air India suspended flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until March 2. It cancelled around 125 international flights and said North America and Europe flights would operate on alternative routes with technical stops in Rome. The airline advised passengers to check updates online.“In view of the continuing situation in the Middle East, Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 2359 hrs IST on 2 March 2026. Additionally, select flights to Europe scheduled on 2 March 2026 have been cancelled,” the airline said.

IndiGo

IndiGo suspended select international flights using West Asia airspace until March 2. It offered passengers options to rebook or claim refunds and said updates would be shared directly. “This extension is a precautionary measure to ensure that we uphold the highest standards of safety for our customers and crew,” the IndiGo statement read.

Akasa Air

Akasa Air suspended flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh until March 2. It offered full refunds or free rescheduling for affected passengers. “Passengers with impacted bookings until March 7, 2026, may opt for a full refund or reschedule their travel at no additional charge,” it said.

SpiceJet

SpiceJeat cancelled all flights operating between India and the UAE (to and from UAE) for March 1, 2026 and March 2, 2026.“Due to the temporary closure of UAE airspace amid the current situation, all SpiceJet flights operating between India and the UAE have been cancelled till 01 March 2026. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before proceeding to the airport,” the airline said.

Emirates

Emirates suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Monday afternoon, local time. The airline asked passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.The official statement read: “Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500hrs UAE time on Monday, 2 March.”

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways flight said its operations remained temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. The airline further said it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace. A further update will be provided on March 02 by 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC)

Etihad

“Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad’s operations, and all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Monday 2 March,” Etihad said in a social media post. The Gulf carrier has cancelled 30 percent of its flights, according to Aviation analytics agency Cirium said.Thousands of passengers remain stranded across West Asia and other international hubs. Travellers are waiting at airports and hotels with no clear timeline on when normal flight operations will resume as the fighting continues.

NEW DELHI: After a year marked by an early and sharp rise in flu cases in several countries, India is set to update its seasonal influenza vaccine to better match a fast-spreading new strain.The World Health Organization has issued its annual recommendations for the 2026–27 northern hemisphere flu season, based on global surveillance data that showed a new A(H3N2) variant — known as subclade K — becoming dominant. India, as part of the northern hemisphere, follows this guidance each year to decide which strains are included in the flu shot.The new H3N2 strain appears to spread more easily than earlier versions. While it is not necessarily more severe for each infected person, its higher transmissibility has led to increased case numbers and earlier-than-usual flu activity in many regions.“The updated recommendations are timely, given the rapid global spread of the new A(H3N2) variant,” said Dr Rommel Tickoo, Director of Internal Medicine at Max Hospital, Saket. “H3N2 strains are often linked to more severe illness, especially in the elderly and those with other medical conditions. Since influenza viruses keep changing, updating the vaccine each year is critical. Early vaccination of high-risk groups can reduce complications and hospital admissions.”WHO has recommended updated components for H1N1, H3N2 and B/Victoria strains for the upcoming season. Indian vaccine manufacturers will now align production to match these strains so doses are available before peak transmission.Doctors advise getting the flu shot before winter. Those who should prioritise vaccination include elderly adults, pregnant women, healthcare workers, young children, people with chronic diseases, immunocompromised individuals and adults over 50 with underlying health conditions.Seasonal influenza causes an estimated 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths globally each year. While India does not have a universal flu vaccination programme, experts say annual vaccination remains important for vulnerable groups.With the updated strains announced, Indian regulators are expected to review and clear the revised formulation soon, allowing manufacturers to begin production ahead of the 2026–27 flu season.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally started the process to replace its old fleet of VIP transport aircraft by issuing a ‘request for information’ (RFI) for 4-6 new Long Range Business Jets (LRBJs) that are meant for secure, rapid and reliable transportation of the military leadership and govt dignitaries.The RFI, which is the first stage to identify potential vendors and understand available technology before initiating a formal purchase, aims at modernising the Air Headquarters Communication Squadron based at Palam, Delhi. The current fleet of four Embraer Legacy 600 jets have already served for over 20 years and are slated for a phased replacement.

“IAF is planning to procure approximately four/six Long Range Business Jets. With the view to identify probable vendors who can undertake the said project, OEMs/ authorised vendors are requested to forward information on the product which they can offer,” the RFI posted on the IAF website said. “The LRBJs will be used for VIP role with passenger carrying capacity of minimum 19 passengers,” it said.The existing fleet, which was inducted on Sept 21, 2005, comprises four Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft that have been designated as Meghdoot, Vayudoot, Nabhdoot and Gagandoot.However, the LRBJs are different from the aircraft that are meant only for India’s top three VVIPs: the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, known by the call sign ‘Air India One’, are specially modified, secure and exclusive jets for the top three VVIPs.On the other hand, the LRBJ aircraft are meant for the movement of senior govt functionaries, including the ministers of defence, finance, home and external affairs, as well as the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and IAF.

NEW DELHI: Neeru Garg and her husband counted pills and hours. Their Sharjah return flight vanished. A taxi ride brought them to Dubai — and into a city under missile fire. “We have no money left and are running low on essential medicines,” Garg, a college principal from Punjab’s Bathinda, said Sunday from the home of an Indian doctor where they found shelter. “We don’t know where to go.”Across west Asia, thousands of Indians — tourists, expatriates, pilgrims, politicians and families with children — have been left stranded after US-Israel strikes on Iran triggered Iranian retaliation. This in turn forced mass airspace closures and shutting down Dubai, the world’s busiest transit hub. “We were asked to leave the airport without any help,” Garg said.Air travel disruptions deepened the crisis. Indian carriers cancelled about 350 flights Sunday alone, while west Asia-based airlines scrubbed more than 1,600 services across their networks. Airports from Chennai and Jaipur to Mangaluru and Amritsar reported mass cancellations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha and Jeddah.In Karnataka, dozens of Kannadigas were marooned across Dubai after flights were grounded mid-journey. Among them were Congress MLAs NR Bharath Reddy and SR Srinivas, and JD(S) MLC SL Bhojegowda.Bhojegowda, travelling from Johannesburg to India via Dubai with his family, said the shutdown came without warning. “As soon as we reached Dubai airport, it was conveyed to us that all flights were grounded due to air strikes by Iran,” he said in a video message, adding that they were safe but stuck.Karnataka election commissioner SG Sangreshi and Pushpa Amarnath, vice chairperson of state guarantee schemes implementation committee, were also unable to return. Amarnath, who was in Dubai for an award event, said guests received repeated safety alerts. “We were advised not to stand near windows. Around 60 tourists from Karnataka are staying in my hotel. All flights cancelled.”From Ballari district, 50 tourists who flew to Dubai on Feb 24 were left stranded when their return flight on Feb 28 was cancelled as airstrikes began. Fifteen members of one family said they were denied entry at the airport and had exhausted the cash they were carrying.“Hotel rooms were costing Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 a night per person. We couldn’t afford it and had no place to go,” one relative said. State MLAs later arranged accommodation for the group in service quarters near the airport.In Kolkata, actor Subhasree Ganguly‘s husband, film director and Trinamool MLA Raj Chakraborty, said she could hear missile blasts from her hotel. She was stranded in Dubai with her son. Return dates remain uncertain.

NEW DELHI: Air travel remained severely crippled in West Asia – from the UAE to Israel – with around 1,600 flights cancelled by the region’s airlines like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways till Sunday evening across all global routes. Indian carriers like IndiGo, Air India and Akasa cancelled 350 flights during the day, according to the aviation ministry.Most airlines have already announced cancellations till Monday. Resumption depends on when carriers deem flights to be safe in the war-zone.

Late Sunday, however, Air India announced “flights to North America and Europe will operate using alternative routes over available airspaces in West Asia which is expected to add to the flying times”. In a statement, it added, “Flights to New York (JFK) and Newark (Liberty International) will operate with technical stops at Rome (Fiumicino Airport).” With Pakistan airspace closed for Indian carriers, they can’t fly Pakistan-Afghanistan-CIS to the west – the route followed by Lufthansa and other western airlines.Air India cancelled around 125 international flights to and from the West on Sunday. The Tatas-owned carrier made it clear that it has extended suspension of flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 11.59 pm on March 2. “Additionally, select flights to Europe scheduled on March 2 have been cancelled, along with the scheduled return legs of these flights (AI117: Amritsar- Birmingham; AI151/AI152: Delhi to and from Zurich; AI157/AI158: Delhi to and from Copenhagen and AI114 Birmingham-Delhi.“IndiGo also announced “suspension of select international flights that use West Asia airspace until March 2, 2026, 11.59pm IST”.For most airlines, the first priority is to get aircraft and crew stuck at foreign airports back home. Air India completed that task for its wide-body aircraft on Sunday and is looking at operating Europe, UK and North America (US, Canada with fuelling stops in Vienna or Rome) through the oceanic route in Oman’s south, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Ditto on the way back.Abu Dhabi has taken an exceptional step by asking its hotels to extend stays of guests stuck due to flight cancellations. “The cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT,” its department of culture and tourism (DCT) said in a circular.Some stranded Indians are looking at driving from the UAE to Muscat and then flying home from there. However, the Indian embassy in Muscat issued an advisory on Sunday that “prior visit/tourist visa (e-visa) is required to enter Oman”.Indians holding valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, Canada, Japan, or Schengen countries can apply for on-arrival visa, it said.

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and condemned the attacks on the nation, in his first conversation with any Gulf leader since the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran.“Spoke with President of the UAE, my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives in these attacks. India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times,” said Modi, while thanking him for taking care of the Indian community in the UAE. Modi didn’t name Iran, which has launched hundreds of projectiles at the UAE in retaliation for the US-Israel strikes that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar had reached out to his counterparts from all GCC countries — Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman — to share India’s concerns over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Gulf and discuss the well-being of the Indian community in the region.Modi also took stock of the West Asia situation at a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting late Sunday after his return to Delhi. The CCS is the highest decision-making body on issues relating to national security and defence.However, with airspace closed across the region, and road travel deemed unsafe, govt advised Indian nationals in Iran and other places to exercise utmost caution and follow local security guidance.Evacuation in any case is going to be a complex affair with nearly 10 million Indian nationals spread across the Gulf. India is hoping the aerial attacks will subside in the next few days, though they intensified on Sunday with the killing of Khamenei.The Indian embassy in UAE confirmed an Indian national was injured in an Iranian strike but added the person was out of danger and receiving assistance from hospital authorities. Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy in India called upon “independent and freedom-seeking govts” around the world to strongly condemn the killing of Khamenei and to refrain from remaining silent in the face of “lawlessness and aggression”.India, however, had not expressed condolences till late evening. Russia and China were among a handful of countries that condemned the killing or offered their condolences. India has been forced into a delicate balancing act because of its close ties with both sides — the US-Israel combine and Iran — and this reflected in its Saturday call for restraint and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.