Air India extends Middle East flight suspension till March 2; reroutes Europe services

In view of the continuing tensions in the Middle East, Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 11.59 pm IST on March 2, 2026. The airline said the decision was taken after closely monitoring the evolving security situation and assessing airspace availability and operational feasibility.

The Tata Group airline also cancelled select Europe-bound services scheduled for March 2, along with their return legs. The affected flights are AI117 (Amritsar–Birmingham), AI151/AI152 (Delhi–Zurich), AI157/AI158 (Delhi–Copenhagen) and AI114 (Birmingham–Delhi). Passengers booked on these services are being informed through their registered contact details, the airline said.

Air India clarified that all other flights to North America and Europe will operate as scheduled but via alternative routings over available Middle East airspace, which is expected to increase flying time. Flights to New York (JFK) and Newark (Liberty International) will operate with technical halts at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.

The airline said it continues to monitor the situation and will issue further updates based on fresh assessments. Air India also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and said it is assisting affected passengers with alternative travel arrangements.