Iran-Israel war forces airlines to cancel and suspend March 2 flights to Gulf countries. Check advisories by IndiGo, Emirates, Qatar Airways and more.
Iran-Israel war forces airlines to cancel and suspend March 2 flights to Gulf countries [Photo: X]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 1, 2026
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
“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.
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 (@qatarairways) March 1, 2026
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…
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.
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,
— Oman Air (@omanair) March 1, 2026
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…
“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.
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
Several other international carriers have either suspended services or issued advisories related to the Middle East crisis. These include:
These airlines have either rerouted aircraft to avoid conflict zones or paused operations entirely until authorities provide safety clearance.
Travellers planning to fly on March 2 should:
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.
