Mumbai: Ninety-eight flights were cancelled, five diverted at Mumbai airport as of 9:30pm on Saturday, amid escalating tension in parts of the Middle East and Gulf region. Among them was IndiGo‘s Mumbai–London flight 6E-1.At 9pm, the Mumbai airport informed airlines and pilots that parking space was not available for diverted aircraft and that no diversions would be accepted until 8am on Sunday. Late in the evening, Air India cancelled several long-haul international services scheduled for March 1, citing safety considerations. The affected flights include services between Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar and London (Heathrow and Gatwick), New York (JFK), Newark, Chicago (via Vienna), Toronto (via Vienna), Frankfurt and Paris. The airline said it is notifying passengers and offering alternative travel options.Akasa Air said all its flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh have been suspended until March 2, 2026. For bookings made to or from these cities until March 7, passengers may opt for a full refund or reschedule at no additional cost. Air India Express extended the suspension of its westbound international flights until 23:59 hrs on March 1. “Air India Express has extended the suspension of its westbound international flights until 23:59 hours on March 01, 2026,” said a spokesperson.Airfares for March 1 travel to London and several Middle East destinations surged after the airspace closures, with a one-way direct London fare touching Rs 1.40 lakh on Saturday afternoon. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an urgent advisory warning of “a significant escalation in security risks” in the Middle East and Persian Gulf airspace, advising Indian operators to avoid the affected airspace at all flight levels.
