Air travel between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) faced significant disruptions on March 15, 2026, as Air India and Air India Express cancelled several flights to UAE destinations due to operational restrictions imposed by airport authorities in the region. The decision affected hundreds of passengers who had planned to travel between India and major UAE cities.
According to airline statements, most ad-hoc and scheduled flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah were either cancelled or significantly reduced. These changes were implemented after UAE airport authorities issued instructions that forced airlines to scale down operations. As a result, the airlines had to revise their flight schedules at short notice, leading to travel disruptions for passengers across several Indian cities.
Despite the widespread cancellations, limited operations continued on the Delhi–Dubai route. Both Air India and Air India Express operated one return flight each between Delhi and Dubai, while several other planned flights on the same route were cancelled. For instance, four out of five scheduled Air India flights to Dubai were cancelled, and five of six planned Air India Express flights were also suspended for the day.
Flights to Abu Dhabi were fully cancelled for the day, while some services from Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to Indian cities such as Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram were expected to operate depending on slot availability and prevailing conditions.
The disruption is part of a broader aviation impact caused by the ongoing tensions and security concerns in West Asia, which have forced airlines to adjust routes, cancel flights, and limit services in the Gulf region. Airlines also advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
To assist affected travelers, the airlines announced that passengers whose flights were cancelled could rebook their tickets for a later date without additional charges or request a full refund. Authorities and airlines are closely monitoring the situation and are expected to update flight schedules depending on developments in the region.
