Rising military tensions between Iran and Israel have pushed global airlines to take urgent safety measures, leading to widespread flight cancellations and suspensions across the Middle East as of March 2. Following airspace restrictions in several Gulf countries and reports of escalating strikes, carriers have issued fresh advisories asking passengers to check flight status before heading to airports.
Airlines have cited safety concerns, closed airspace corridors and operational risks as the main reasons behind the disruption. The developments come amid reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, further intensifying uncertainty in the region.
Israel-Iran War: Flight Cancellations/Suspension & Advisories on March 2
Airlines across Asia, Europe and the Gulf have either cancelled services or temporarily halted operations to affected destinations. Many carriers have warned of last-minute schedule changes depending on airspace clearance and security reviews.
Passengers travelling to or via the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait face significant disruptions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
Israel-Iran War: IndiGo Flight Cancellations/Suspensions
Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has cancelled 160 flights scheduled for March 2 after multiple Middle East airspace closures.
In a post on X, IndiGo said the temporary suspension of select international flights operating through Middle East airspace has been extended until March 2, 2026, 11:59 pm. The airline added that the extension is a precautionary measure to uphold the highest standards of safety for the customers and crew.
The airline advised passengers to regularly check flight status updates and explore rebooking or refund options where applicable.
Israel-Iran War: SpiceJet Flight Cancellations/Suspensions
SpiceJet has cancelled more than 30 flights to and from the UAE on March 2. The cancellations mainly affect routes connecting Indian cities with Dubai and other Gulf hubs.
Important Update: All flights to and from UAE remain cancelled on 2nd March.#flyspicejet #spicejet pic.twitter.com/JleRd6uivP
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) March 1, 2026
The airline has urged passengers to verify their booking details and check updated schedules before travelling to the airport.
Israel-Iran War: Emirates Flight Cancellations/Suspensions
Dubai-based Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai until 15:00 hrs UAE time on March 2.
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.
If you are booked to travel before or on 5 March, your options are:
✈️Rebook on an alternate flight. You can rebook on… pic.twitter.com/Td8Edi6nCi
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 1, 2026
“We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities. We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” it said.
The airline has asked travellers to check real-time flight status on its website before departure.
Israel-Iran War: Qatar Airways Flight Cancellations/Suspensions
Qatar Airways has suspended flight operations following the closure of Qatari airspace.
Update: Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace. A further update will be provided on March…
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) March 1, 2026
The airline stated that services will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms the safe reopening of airspace. Passengers connecting through Doha have been advised to monitor official updates.
Israel-Iran War: Oman Air Flight Cancellations/Suspensions
Oman Air has cancelled flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM) and Kuwait (KWI) on March 2.
⚠️ Dear valued guests,
Due to ongoing regional airspace closures, flights to/from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM) and Kuwait (KWI) due to depart today, Sunday 1 March, and tomorrow, Monday 2 March, are cancelled.
Flights to/from Moscow…
— Oman Air (@omanair) March 1, 2026
“The safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority. We are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the appropriate authorities and will continue to share updates here and on our website,” it said.
The airline continues to coordinate with aviation regulators and security agencies.
Israel-Iran War: SriLankan Airlines Flight Cancellations/Suspensions
SriLankan Airlines has cancelled flight operations between Colombo and multiple Middle East destinations until 23:59 hrs on March 1. The airline indicated that further extensions may follow depending on regional developments.
Important Notice from SriLankan Airlines on Middle East Operations pic.twitter.com/eSVtLYtDRZ
— SriLankan Airlines (@flysrilankan) March 1, 2026
Israel-Iran War: Other Airlines Issuing Middle East Flight Advisories
Several other international carriers have either suspended services or issued advisories related to the Middle East crisis. These include:
- Air Astana
- Air Canada
- Azerbaijan Airlines
- British Airways
- ITA Airways
- Lufthansa
- Norwegian Air
- Pegasus Airlines
- Wizz Air
These airlines have either rerouted aircraft to avoid conflict zones or paused operations entirely until authorities provide safety clearance.
What Passengers Should Do Now?
Travellers planning to fly on March 2 should:
- Check airline websites for real-time updates
- Confirm departure status before leaving for the airport
- Contact customer support for rebooking or refunds
- Monitor official civil aviation advisories
The Iran–Israel conflict continues to disrupt aviation routes connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. Because Gulf airports act as major global transit hubs, even temporary suspensions create ripple effects worldwide.
Airlines will likely review operations daily and restore services in phases once airspace authorities confirm that routes are safe. Until then, passengers should remain flexible and prepared for sudden changes.
