Air India on Tuesday brought back 149 Indian passengers who had been stranded in West Asia for days due to the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States. The flight, AI916D, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi at 10:58 am, offering relief to those affected by the sudden closure of airspace across the region.

Repatriation Efforts Intensify Amid Travel Disruptions

This was the first repatriation flight by an Indian carrier to bring back passengers from West Asia amid the ongoing conflict. ‘Our Operations Control Centre and supporting teams have been working around the clock to facilitate these flights in extraordinary circumstances, ensuring smooth coordination throughout,’ Air India said in a statement.

Flight operations in West Asia were completely shut down after several countries began closing their airspace since Saturday, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. However, the situation has slightly improved after airlines like Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad started operating some special flights from Monday.

On Monday, IndiGo announced it would operate four dedicated flights starting March 3 from Jeddah to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Similarly, Akasa Air and SpiceJet have also announced additional flights from today to repatriate Indian passengers from the region. SpiceJet has further announced that it will resume scheduled flights between Fujairah and Delhi and between Fujairah and Mumbai starting March 4.

Travel Disruptions and Flight Cancellations

Air India has offered passengers who booked flights to West Asian destinations on or before 28 February 2026 a full refund for their tickets. Additionally, passengers will be able to reschedule their flights at no additional cost.

The first passenger flight took off from Abu Dhabi on Monday after Iran distanced itself from recent missile and drone strikes across the Gulf. Etihad Airways resumed limited operations from Zayed International Airport following this development.

At the same time, IndiGo on Tuesday cancelled 43 flights to and from West Asia. Similarly, SpiceJet has also cancelled several West Asia-bound flights on March 3.

Etihad Airways said, ‘All Etihad’s scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Wednesday 4 March.’

Escalating Tensions and Airspace Closures

In the early hours of February 28, airstrikes and military operations were launched against multiple cities in Iran. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks across the region, striking targets in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

As tensions escalated, authorities in several locations shut down airports and closed airspace as a precautionary measure. The abrupt suspension of flights caused widespread travel disruptions, leaving many passengers awaiting further updates.

The conflict between Iran and Israel has had significant implications for international travel and regional stability. With airspace closures affecting major airlines, many passengers found themselves stranded in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and others, unable to return home for days.

Analysts warn that the situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation. The resumption of limited flight operations is a positive sign, but the long-term impact on regional travel and trade remains uncertain.

Passengers and travel agencies are now urging airlines to provide more clarity on flight schedules and refund policies as the conflict continues to unfold.