Flight Status 9 March Highlights: IndiGo's first flight to Manchester since Mid East conflict takes U-turn

Indian Embassy in Qatar said in a post on X, that Qatar Airways is planning three flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.

Qatar Airways operated a Doha-New Delhi flight on Monday on which more than 300 Indian passengers stranded in Doha travelled to India, the Embassy of India in Doha, Qatar, said on its X handle.

"We thank Qatar Airways for operating the flight and for cooperating with the Embassy of India, Doha, for the same. Altogether, close to 1,000 Indians stranded in Doha on transit or short-term visits have departed on Qatar Airways flights over the last three days," it said.

The stranded West Indies and South Africa squads will leave India on Tuesday on a shared charter flight to Johannesburg following their exits from the T20 World Cup.

This shared flight was arranged after both teams were stranded in India for several days due to international airspace restrictions amid the conflict in the Middle East.

On Monday, Oman's Muscat airport said that it did not send a message seen by some charter executives that asked private jets to avoid using the site for “additional flights.”

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Qatar wrote, “Qatar Airways operated a Doha-New Delhi flight this morning on which more than 300 Indian passengers stranded in Doha travelled to India.”

Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 60 flights to and from cities in the Middle East, including 32 non-scheduled services connecting the UAE.

Amid the escalating Middle East conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, airlines are operating services in a calibrated manner as there are airspace restrictions and closures in the region.

IndiGo, on Monday, said that it is carefully rebuilding its scheduled network in the Middle East as tensions between US-Israel and Iran continue.

The fourth repatriation flight from Dubai has already landed in Riga. These special flights were organized, which are helping Latvian nationals return home at a time when regular air traffic is restricted.

The situation in the region remains changeable, and we will continue to follow it closely. We thank our passengers for their understanding and our teams for their professional work in ensuring these flights

From Greece's Aegean airlines to Etihad Airways, here is a list of carriers that have cancelled flights amid war:

Aegean Airlines, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Europa, Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific, Delta, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Finnair, IAG, Iberia Express, Ita Airways, Japan Airlines, Lot, Lufthansa Group, Malaysia Airlines, Norwegian Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudia Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Ai

Air France-KLM on Monday (local time) said that it is extending the suspension of flights of its French arm to and from Middle East airports due to security reasons.

Air France will maintain its suspension of traffic to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 12, included, and to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 13, included, the company said in a statement.

On Monday, one IndiGo flight– including Manchester-bound plane returned to Delhi due to certain restrictions when the plane was to enter the Eritrea airspace, according to sources. Another flight from London Heathrow to Mumbai was diverted to Cairo following issues related to entering Eritrea airspace, PTI reported, citing sources

IndiGo flight 6E002 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Mumbai (BOM) was diverted to Cairo (CAI) on March 8, 2026, due to FDTL limitations. The flight will operate tomorrow on 10th March 2026 after the crew rest. Hotels & visas being arranged for passengers by IndiGo.

German aviation giant Lufthansa on Monday extended the suspension of flights to key destinations in the Middle East as the US-Israeli war on Iran continued into a second week.

Flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as Dammam in Saudi Arabia, are cancelled until March 15, it said in a statement.

Emirates in a post on X said that it expects a swift return to normality, saying: “The airline anticipates a return to 100 per cent of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements.

Swiss Airlines extends suspension of flights to Dubai till 15 March and to Tel Aviv till 2 April, amid Middle East tensions

Here's what governments in Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic have said regarding repatriations amid tensions in West Asia:

Austria's foreign ministry said it had helped 117 vulnerable citizens leave the UAE and Israel via neighbouring states and had planned a first charter flight from Muscat on March 4 for 170 people.

The Bulgarian government said that three flights by GullivAir, Bulgaria Air, and the State Aviation Operator planned to return Bulgarian citizens from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman on March 4 and March 5, including a 326-seat GullivAir flight from Dubai, a Bulgaria Air Boeing 737 rotation via Oman, and a 90-seat government aircraft from Abu Dhabi.

Around 1,400 people have arrived in the Czech Republic through repatriation flights, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said on Sunday.

Vietnam is likely to see airfares increasing as much as 70% after imported jet fuel prices tripled since the Middle East conflict began, state broadcaster VTV reported, as surging oil prices threaten to roil the aviation industry.

Indian carriers like SpiceJet and Akasa Air have announced continued and additional flight operations to support passenger travel between India and the Gulf region as airlines continue to witness disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict.

Singapore's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday said they will deploy RSAF A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for their citizens stranded in the Middle East.

In a statement, it said, “In response to the urgent need of Singaporeans in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for assisted departure to Singapore, and given the lack of feasible commercial options in the region, the Singapore Government will deploy a Republic of Singapore Air Force A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the assisted departure of Singaporeans from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 10 March 2026. A second flight from Saudi Arabia is being planned for 12 March 2026. The deployment of the MRTTs to Saudi Arabia serve solely to support the assisted departure operations.”

Airlines in Asia are now increasing ticket prices and mapping out contingency plans that include grounding planes as the escalating Middle East conflict threatens to trigger the worst oil shock since the 1970s.

Airline pilots have often faced escalating risks in recent years, from drone incursions to flight paths squeezed by conflict. Now U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran are making the skies even more perilous and ratcheting up the pressure on those flying through them.

The conflict in Iran has pushed the oil prices higher, with airline stocks in Asia being hammered as well.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Monday said that the Indian carriers are planning 50 flights for today from the West Asia region. In a statement released, the ministry added that for 7 March, 51 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in the country from Middle East.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said that around 90,000 people have been able to travel from the Gulf region in the last week itself amid the escalating conflict, emphasising the key roles of various airlines.

Naidu said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been in direct contact with airlines and has ensured the safety.

The escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has continued to reverberate through global aviation networks, forcing widespread airspace closures, flight cancellations and rerouting across Middle East corridors and beyond.

As of March 9, civil aviation authorities and international carriers are still navigating the fallout from over a week of intensified hostilities, including military strikes and retaliatory actions that have reshaped regional air connectivity.

Flight Status 9 March LIVE Updates: Flightradar24 in a post on X stated, “IndiGo flight 6E33 (operated by Norse) made a U-turn on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea and is returning to Delhi. This was the first IndiGo Delhi - Manchester flight since the 26th of Feb.”

US Department of State Consular Affairs issued a red alert travel warning for its nationals in Saudi Arabia. In a statement it said, “There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens for President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire Department of State. Commercial flights are currently operating out of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran and Saudi airspace remains open, but with significant flight cancellations and prolonged operational delays.”

It advised American nationals to “strongly consider departing on one of these flights”.

Gulf Air is operating 4 repatriation flights to Dammam — 2 from London airport, one from Manchester and another from Singapore.

Air India in its official statement said, "Air India and Air India Express will continue to operate their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on 9 March 2026, as the airspaces over Saudi Arabia and Oman remain open. The two airlines will together operate a total of 10 flights to and from Jeddah and Air India Express will operate 14 flights to and from Muscat."

It added, "On 9 March 2026, Air India will operate one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, and Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kozhikode. Air India Express will also operate its scheduled services to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, and two round-trips from Kochi."

Air India and Air India Express are operating scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on Monday. Besides this, both airlines are operating a total of 32 additional flights to the United Arab Emirates on Monday so that stranded travellers could return home.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation in its daily bulletin said that Indian carriers — Air India. Air India Express, Akasa, Indigo and SpiceJet — plan to operate 50 flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Jeddah, Muscat and Ras Al Khaimah airports today, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions.

Qatar's Ministry of Interior warned “everyone to exercise caution and vigilance and to comply with the official instructions issued by the competent authorities, including remaining in safe areas or inside buildings when alerts are issued through the National Alert System.”

Delhi airport in a post on X stated, “Due to the current situation in the Middle East some westbound international flights may face delays or changes to their schedules. Passengers are encouraged to check the latest information with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport.”

Ministry of Civil Aviation on Sunday in a post on X said, “Due to the ongoing situation in West Asia, flight operations have been impacted across several sectors. A total of 49 flight operations were scheduled today (8 March) by Indian domestic carriers from West Asia to India. As of 8 March, 279 flights scheduled to be operated today by Indian domestic carriers have been cancelled.”

The UAE on Monday said its air defences were engaging with missile threats without providing further details.

National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority also urged people to shelter in a safe place and follow official updates on the situation.

Check the most recent update from the Delhi airport, as of 5 am IST on Monday.

More flight disruptions could be in store for Monday after several Gulf nations reported explosions and/or interception of Iranian drones and missiles.

Explosions were heard in the Qatari capital of Doha on Monday, AFP reported, while Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a few missiles.

Kuwait, meanwhile, said that its air defence was working to intercept missiles and drones on Monday.

While there have been no updates by airports thus far, continuation or escalation of attacks could significantly hamper flight operations.

Passengers requiring support may contact the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)’s Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) helpline numbers:

011-24604283

011-24632987

Oman's Muscat International Airport has asked private jet operators to avoid using the site for "additional flights," giving priority to government and commercial flights as fresh airspace closures hit the region’s attempts to increase travel, reported Reuters citing an internal email.

"Due to the current crisis management measures at Muscat International Airport, flight movements are restricted to approved seasonal scheduled services only," the airport authorities told charter plane operators on Friday.

The airport said this measure was necessary to manage congestion and ensure that airport capacity remains within acceptable limits.

Air India and Air India express are slated to operate a total of 24 scheduled flights to Jeddah and Muscat on Monday, in addition to operating 32 ad-hoc flights from multiple points in the UAE "subject to slot availability, regulatory approvals, and operational conditions".

Air India also said that to support passengers amid the ongoing situation in West Asia, the carrier will operate 78 additional flights on nine routes between 10 and 18 March.

“Due to the ongoing situation in West Asia, flight operations have been impacted across several sectors. A total of 49 flight operations were scheduled today (8 March) by Indian domestic carriers from West Asia to India. As of 8 March, 279 flights scheduled to be operated today by Indian domestic carriers have been cancelled,” MoCA said in its Sunday update.

“Passengers are advised to keep a close watch on the latest flight updates and remain attentive to communication shared by their respective airlines through their registered contact details,” it added.