Chennai Airport Sees Mass Flight Cancellations to Middle East Amid Regional Tensions
In a significant disruption to air travel, numerous flights from Chennai to key Middle Eastern destinations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, have been abruptly cancelled. This action follows the sudden escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran over the weekend, which has led to widespread airspace restrictions and safety concerns across the region.
Passengers Stranded as Airlines Halt Operations
Reports indicate that at least 15 departures from Chennai International Airport have been cancelled, with six flights affected on Saturday and an additional nine on Sunday. This has resulted in numerous passengers being left stranded at the airport, facing uncertainty and travel delays. In addition to outgoing flights, three inbound services to Chennai from Bahrain, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, scheduled between 8:00 PM and 8:40 PM, were also called off.
Notable cancellations include:
- An Oman Air flight to Muscat, which departed Chennai at 2:20 PM, was forced to return due to airspace closures and later cancelled.
- Qatar Airways' Chennai-Abu Dhabi flight, set for 4:10 PM on Saturday, was announced as cancelled.
- Etihad Airways' 9:40 PM service to Abu Dhabi and Emirates' 9:45 PM flight to Dubai were both postponed and ultimately cancelled.
Major Airlines Issue Advisories and Suspend Services
Leading Indian carriers, the Air India Group and IndiGo, swiftly announced the suspension of all flights to Middle East destinations. Air India cancelled its Chennai-Dubai flight scheduled for 6:45 PM on Saturday. In an official advisory, the airline stated, "In view of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East, all Air India flights to all destinations in the Middle East are suspended. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety for our passengers and crew. We will continue to assess the safety and security environment for our flight operations and adjust operations proactively as required."
IndiGo followed suit, cancelling all its Middle East flights and select international routes until 6:00 PM on Sunday, with promises to communicate updates via registered contact details. International airlines such as Oman Air, Air Arabia, Emirates, and Qatar Airways have also advised passengers to stay informed through official channels for the latest flight information.
Airspace Restrictions and Operational Challenges
Sources reveal that operational hurdles have compounded the cancellations. Muscat's flight information region (FIR) has imposed restrictions, only accepting flights exiting into Jeddah FIR and not allowing entries into Emirates FIR. This has led to congestion, with many flights from India being turned back from Muscat FIR due to capacity limitations, further exacerbating the travel chaos.
Additional cancellations at Chennai airport on Sunday included:
- IndiGo's flights to Doha at 3:40 AM and to Dubai at 6:20 AM.
- Air Arabia's services to Sharjah at 3:45 AM and to Abu Dhabi at 4:50 AM.
- Etihad's flight to Dubai at 3:55 AM, Emirates' to Dubai at 3:50 AM, Qatar Airways' to Doha at 4:05 AM, Gulf Air's to Bahrain at 5:35 AM, and Oman Air's to Muscat at 7:20 AM.
The situation underscores the broader impact of geopolitical conflicts on global aviation, with safety protocols taking precedence over travel schedules. Passengers are urged to monitor airline websites and official advisories for real-time updates as the region navigates this volatile period.
