Flights Cancellation To Middle East: 5,500+ Flights Cancelled; How To Get Refund At Air India, Indigo Tickets

Wars are brutal and have a cascading effect on various factors. It's been more than two weeks and the war in the Middle East is nowhere near its ending. The latest Indian government data on Monday revealed that more than 5,500 flights have been cancelled by both Indian and foreign carriers due to the ongoing security crisis in West Asia.

Air India and Indigo, two leading airlines of India, have announced a key advisory to citizens with plans to travel in regions of the Middle East, especially UAE as Iran continues to bombard this place with so-called reasoning of targeting US-based assets in these regions. It needs to be noted that the UAE is one of the major tourist hubs in the world.

5,500+ Flights Cancelled Due To West Asia War:

The Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told Lok Sabha on Monday that Indian airlines cancelled approximately 4,335 flights, while foreign airlines cancelled about 1,187 flights due to the Middle East conflict, which impacted airspace in the region, enforced restrictions and operational challenges.

"If the airspace itself is closed, there is no need for us to operate in this area. The first thing we have to remember is safety," he told the Parliament.

He also informed that the DGCA is in continuous communication with the authorities in the region for tracking the development to ensure passenger safety.

Flights To Dubai, Abu Dhabi Cancelled On March 16 and March 17:

The skies of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a huge blow as disruptions at major international airports like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah airport. As per the latest update.

In the early hours of March 16th, a massive fire broke out in Dubai International Airport (DXB), which forced many flights to divert from their routes and take emergency landing to Al Maktom International Airport. It was reported that a drone struck a fuel tank in the vicinity at the Dubai airport.

While suspending operations temporarily, Dubai's national carrier, Emirates said, "Please do not got to the airport. Emirates will share updates when available."

FlyDubai, Air India, Air Express, Indigo, Air France, and Gulf Air are among the airlines who have cancelled flights to Dubai International Airport.

Live data from FlightAware showed that FlyDubai and Emirates cancelled about 18 flights and 11 flights which accounted 6% and 2% of their daily operations. The airlines reportedly faced intense delays as well.

Meanwhile, Indigo had a 27% cancellation rate in UAE, while Gulf Air's cancellation rate was at a staggering 70%. Further, Air France, Royal Jordanian, and SunExpress faced 50% cancellation rate at the Dubai airport. SriLankan Airlines cancellation rate stood at 40% followed by Egypt Air and US-Bangla Airlines who had cancellation rate of 37% and 33%.

Air India Suspends Flights To Dubai Airport:

As per the latest update by Air India, Dubai International Airport has temporarily suspended all flight operations to and from the airport. It said, "As a result, Air India and Air India Express flights to and from Dubai have been cancelled for the day."

Furthermore, Air India is offering passengers the flexibility to choose between rebooking for future date or cancelling their flights and receive full refund. There will be no additional cost imposed on these tickets.

Indigo Suspends Flights To Dubai From March 15 To March 17:

Indigo notified saying, "Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations in Dubai have been further restricted, leading to changes in flight schedules. As a result, some flights scheduled to operate between 15 - 17 March have been affected."

The airline directed customers to check their flight status before leaving the airport. Also, customers may contact to their services for future assistance.

How To Get Refund Of Your Air India, Air India Express Tickets?

Step 1: Visit Air India's 'Manage Booking' section. Click Below:

https://www.airindia.com/in/en/manage/booking.html

Step 2: Enter your booking reference number (PNR) and last name.

Step 3: Click on submit.

You will not be required to pay any fees or charges when Air India cancels your flight due to unforeseen circumstances.

You can apply for a refund up to two years from the date of issuance of your flight ticket.

Also, you can cancel the booking and request for refund using Air India's app which is available on both Android and iOS.

How To Apply For Refund At Air India Express Flights?

As per the airline's guidelines, when your flights are cancelled by Air India Express, you can choose between rescheduling or opting for refund.

Reschedule your flight: You can choose a new flight departing up to 7 days before or after your original departure time, free of charge.

Get a full refund: If you'd prefer not to reschedule, you can request a full refund for your booking.

Both options are available through our chatbot, Tia(on Whatsapp), upto 2 hours before your original flight was scheduled to take off.

How To Get Refund Of Indigo Flight Tickets?

Step 1: Visit IndiGo's Website or App and open "Manage Booking" or "Flight Status".

Step 2: Enter PNR + last name.

Step 3: If the flight is cancelled, the system will show automatic options for a full refund or free rebooking.

Step 4: You can then choose "Refund" on the portal. IndiGo usually processes refunds within 2-7 business days. Also the refund mode depends on the original payment method.

Step 5: You can also shift your booking to the next available IndiGo flight. No rebooking charges apply for cancelled flights.

Step 7: If you booked via a travel portal, you must contact MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Yatra, EaseMyTrip, etc. Refunds must be processed through the agency you booked with.