Major airlines including IndiGo, Akasa Air, Qatar Airways, and Emirates have suspended or extended the suspension of flights to and from Middle Eastern destinations amid rising regional tensions. Passengers are being offered travel waivers and full refund or rescheduling options. IndiGo, in a statement on X, said it is closely monitoring developments in the region and has extended the temporary suspension of select international flights passing through Middle Eastern airspace. The airline urged passengers to check their flight status and confirmed that travelers can reschedule at no extra cost or receive credit for future travel on affected routes until March 7, 2026, for bookings made on or before February 28, 2026.

Akasa Air announced that all flights to and from Jordan, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh on March 3, 2026, are suspended due to the ongoing situation. The airline confirmed passengers could opt for full refunds or reschedule their travel without additional charges until March 7, 2026. Qatar Airways said its operations remain temporarily suspended because of the closure of Qatari airspace. The airline stated flights will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority declares it safe to reopen airspace, with updates scheduled for March 3.

Emirates temporarily halted all flights to and from Dubai until 3:00 PM UAE time on March 3 due to multiple regional airspace closures. Passengers booked to travel by March 5 are being offered the option to rebook for travel by March 20 or request a full refund. Emirates advised travelers to monitor operational updates online and said all city check-in points in Dubai remain closed.

The disruptions come amid escalating tensions in West Asia following US-Israel joint strikes on Iran that killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his family. Iran has since launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting multiple Arab countries, leading to widespread airspace closures and major impacts on international aviation.