SpiceJet Cancels 87 Flights Amid UAE Airspace Closure Triggered by West Asia Conflict

SpiceJet cancelled 87 flights on Monday , including 37 departures and 50 arrivals at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport , as continuing airspace restrictions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) disrupted flight operations amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

According to airport sources, the cancellations affected multiple SpiceJet services operating between Indian cities Dubai and Sharjah on March 2 and 3. Flights from Dubai to Pune, Mumbai, Amritsar, Calicut, Madurai, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Delhi were cancelled. Services from Sharjah to Ahmedabad were also impacted. Similarly, departures from Mumbai, Amritsar, Madurai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Kochi and Calicut to Dubai and Sharjah were called off due to ongoing airspace restrictions.

The disruptions come in the backdrop of a worsening military confrontation in West Asia , following reported U.S. and Israeli strikes inside Iran , which triggered retaliatory missile and drone launches across the Gulf region . Amid concerns over the safety of civilian aircraft and the risk posed by hostile activity near flight corridors, several Gulf nations, including the UAE, temporarily closed or restricted their airspace as a precautionary measure.

The airspace closure led to significant operational disruptions at major hubs such as Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) , forcing airlines to suspend or reroute flights. The ripple effect was felt across global networks, with several international carriers either cancelling or delaying services.

Dubai Airports on Sunday confirmed a limited resumption of operations beginning the evening of March 2, allowing a small number of flights to operate from DXB and DWC. However, passengers were advised not to proceed to the airport unless directly contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

In a post on X, Emirates said it would begin operating a limited number of flights from the evening of March 2, prioritising customers with earlier bookings. The airline clarified that only passengers who had been rebooked and notified should travel to the airport, while all other flights remain suspended until further notice. It reiterated that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.

Akasa Air announced that its flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh remain suspended for March 3, 2026. The airline is offering full refunds or free rescheduling for eligible bookings until March 7. Meanwhile, Oman Air cancelled all flights on March 3 to and from several Middle Eastern destinations due to continued regional airspace closures, while cautioning that delays remain possible on other routes.

The partial reopening of UAE airspace offers limited relief, but aviation operations across West Asia continue to face uncertainty amid the ongoing conflict.