Air India has cancelled a series of long-haul international flights scheduled for March 1, 2026, citing its ongoing assessment of the evolving situation in the Middle East and related airspace disruptions. In a statement, Air India stated that the decision was taken “in the interest of the safety and security of our guests and staff,” adding that the airline is closely monitoring developments and will share further updates based on its risk assessments.
Air India news update
Air India also shared, “In view of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East, all Air India flights to all destinations in the Middle East have been suspended. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety for our passengers and crew. We will continue to assess the safety and security environment for our flight operations and adjust operations proactively as required. Our teams will be extending all necessary support to passengers. We recommend that you check your flight status here for the latest updates.For more information related to this please connect with our 24×7 Call Centre at +91 1169329333, +91 1169329999. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Full list of cancelled Air India flights on March 1, 2026
The airline confirmed that the following services stand cancelled:AI161 / AI162: Delhi–London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)–DelhiAI111 / AI112: Delhi–London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)–DelhiAI129 / AI128: Mumbai–London (Heathrow) / London (Heathrow)–MumbaiAI169 / AI170: Amritsar–London (Gatwick) / London (Gatwick)–AmritsarAI101 / AI102: Delhi–New York (JFK) / New York (JFK)–DelhiAI119 / AI116: Mumbai–New York (JFK) / New York (JFK)–MumbaiAI191 / AI144: Mumbai–Newark / Newark–MumbaiAI127 / AI126: Delhi–Chicago / Chicago–Delhi (via Vienna)AI187 / AI188 and AI189 / AI190: Delhi–Toronto / Toronto–Delhi (via Vienna)AI2025 / AI2026: Delhi–Frankfurt / Frankfurt–DelhiAI2027 / AI2028: Mumbai–Frankfurt / Frankfurt–MumbaiAI143 / AI142 and AI147 / AI148: Delhi–Paris / Paris–DelhiThe airline said affected passengers are being notified and are being offered alternative options to minimise inconvenience.
Air India Express extends Gulf suspension
Meanwhile, Air India Express has extended the suspension of its westbound international flights to parts of the Gulf region until 23:59 hours on March 1, 2026.As per ANI, an Air India Express spokesperson said, “Air India Express has extended the suspension of its westbound international flights until 23:59 hours on March 01, 2026, in view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Gulf Region. We are working closely with the relevant authorities and will resume services as soon as conditions allow. However, guests who booked travel to or from the Gulf region up to 28th February 2026, for journeys scheduled until 5th March 2026, may reschedule their travel to a future date without any date-change fees, or cancel their bookings for a full refund to their original mode of payment. Guests can conveniently manage their bookings at https://www.airindiaexpress.com/manage-booking or through Tia, our AI-powered chat assistant available on WhatsApp.”
Ongoing airspace disruptions
The cancellations come amid heightened tensions in West Asia following joint military strikes involving Israel and the United States targeting Iranian sites, which triggered retaliatory threats and airspace closures in parts of the region. Key international corridors used by airlines flying between India, Europe and North America have been affected.
