444 Flights Likely to Be Cancelled on March 1 Due to Middle East Airspace Closures: DGCA

New Delhi - Following widespread airspace closures over Iran and several Middle Eastern nations, as many as 444 flights are expected to be cancelled on March 1, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Sunday.

The aviation regulator said that due to airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East, domestic airlines had already cancelled 410 flights on February 28.

In a post on X, the DGCA stated that major airports across the country remain on operational alert to manage possible diversions and ensure smooth passenger facilitation. “Passenger assistance, airline coordination and terminal crowd management are being closely monitored, with senior officials deployed on the ground,” the regulator said.

The DGCA also informed that the Ministry’s Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) continues to monitor passenger grievances and facilitate quick redressal. On February 28, AirSewa recorded 216 passenger complaints, of which 105 were resolved during the same period to ensure support for affected travellers.

The regulator said it is maintaining close coordination with airlines to ensure full compliance with safety and operational regulations, adding that all stakeholders are working together to ensure orderly handling of passengers and timely assistance.

Earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed all Indian airlines operating international services to continuously monitor airspace advisories, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and route restrictions in view of the large-scale military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

“Following the airspace restrictions imposed in the Middle East, airlines have been instructed to ensure timely rerouting or diversion of flights wherever required, strictly in line with global safety protocols and established contingency procedures,” the ministry said.

Reiterating that passenger and crew safety remains paramount, the ministry said the situation is under constant watch and further updates will be issued as required.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and private airport operators have also been advised to enhance coordination with airlines for ground handling, parking bays, passenger amenities, crew logistics and immigration support as necessary.

With inputs from IANS