West Asia conflict: Indian airlines cancel 4,335 flights, foreign carriers 1,187, govt tells Rajya Sabha

Over 5,500 flights have been cancelled amid West Asia tensions, while more than 2.19 lakh passengers still travelled safely

PGurus Newsdesk

March 16, 2026

The West Asia conflict has disrupted aviation routes, forcing thousands of flight cancellations, the government said in Parliament

5,500+ flights cancelled due to West Asia conflict, aviation minister informs Rajya Sabha

India’s civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that thousands of flights have been cancelled due to the ongoing West Asia conflict and airspace restrictions in the region.

Flight cancellations due to West Asia conflict

Responding to a supplementary question during Question Hour, the minister said Indian airlines have cancelled 4,335 flights, while foreign carriers cancelled 1,187 flights so far because of airspace closures.

The disruptions follow escalating tensions involving United States, Israel, and Iran, which have affected aviation routes across West Asia.

Safety remains the top priority

Naidu emphasised that passenger safety and operational security remain the government’s top priority during the crisis.

He said airlines cannot operate in areas where airspace is closed or considered unsafe.

Authorities including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are maintaining constant communication with aviation regulators in affected countries to monitor the situation.

Over 2.19 lakh passengers still travelled

Despite the disruption, the minister said that around 2,19,780 passengers have travelled during the crisis period whenever safe airspace and operational slots were available.

He added that the aviation ministry and the DGCA are working closely with international authorities to ensure safe operations.

However, Naidu noted that several airspace corridors remain closed, and normal flight operations can resume only after the routes are declared safe.

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