Flight operations from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru faced heavy disruptions on Sunday (March 1, 2026) as growing tensions in West Asia led to widespread cancellations and airspace restrictions across countries in the region. Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Bengaluru airport after several international services were called off at short notice.
The authorities confirmed that 37 flights were cancelled during the day. “Due to airspace restriction on March 1, 18 arrivals and 19 departures have been cancelled,” a BIAL spokesperson said as per a report by The Hindu.
The flights majorly faced disruptions on the gulf routes including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai and Doha. Among these, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the top two international destinations from Bengaluru, making the impact particularly significant for passengers on this route.
Airlines extend suspensions, advisory issued
Several airlines including Air India and IndiGo have suspended operations to parts of West Asia . “Air India Express has extended the suspension of its westbound international flights until 23:59 hours on March 1, 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 March 5, 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,” Air India Express said.
However, authorities said flight operations to Europe were largely normal.
APart from Bengaluru, other airports across India faced disruptions. At Chennai International Airport, 18 international flights operating between Chennai and Gulf countries were cancelled. Authorities advised passengers bound for overseas destinations, particularly via West Asian hubs, to check with their respective airlines before travel.
At Tiruchirappalli International Airport, Air India Express cancelled its Dubai Tiruchirappalli service scheduled for Sunday.
