“Passenger assistance, airline coordination, and terminal crowd management are being closely monitored, with senior officials deployed on the ground,” said the aviation regulator.
New Delhi/Mumbai:After a massive disruption due to airspace closures across Iran and several Middle Eastern countries, 444 flights are expected to be cancelled on March 1, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Movie Schedule Listings
Due to airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East, 410 flights of domestic carriers were cancelled on February 28.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up a 24×7 Passenger Assistance Control Room to review preparedness in view of the evolving airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the West Asia.
In a post on X, DGCA said that “major airports remain on operational alert to manage potential diversions and ensure seamless passenger facilitation”.
“Passenger assistance, airline coordination, and terminal crowd management are being closely monitored, with senior officials deployed on the ground,” said the aviation regulator.
The DGCA informed that the Ministry’s Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) continues to closely monitor passenger concerns and facilitate prompt redressal.
On February 28, AirSewa recorded 216 grievances, and 105 grievances were resolved during the same period ensuring necessary support to affected passengers.
DGCA is maintaining close coordination with airlines to ensure full compliance with safety and operational regulations.
All stakeholders are working in coordination to ensure orderly handling of affected passengers and timely assistance to all concerned travellers.
According to the DGCA, Iran has announced retaliatory measures, raising concerns over potential spill-over risks to civilian aviation. The regulator flagged several critical hazards, including possible retaliatory attacks affecting Iranian airspace and neighbouring states, the presence of advanced weaponry such as cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, all-altitude air defence systems and military air assets, as well as the risk of misidentification of civilian aircraft or operational errors during military interception procedures.
Earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed all Indian airlines operating international services to continuously monitor airspace advisories, Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs), and route restrictions issued by the concerned authorities to ensure passenger safety in the wake of the massive military operation launched by the US and Israel against Iran on Saturday.
“Following the airspace restrictions imposed in the Middle East, airlines have been directed to ensure timely rerouting or diversion of flights, wherever required, strictly in accordance with global safety protocols and established contingency planning procedures,” according to the Civil Aviation Ministry statement.
“The safety of passengers and crew remains paramount. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the situation to ensure safe, orderly, and efficient air operations. The situation is under constant watch. Further updates will follow as necessary,” the statement said.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and private airport operators have been advised to maintain enhanced coordination with airlines for ground handling, parking bays, passenger amenities, crew logistics and immigration support, as necessary.
Passengers across India faced major inconvenience due to flight disruptions and cancellations following the US-Israel attack on Iran.
In Maharashtra, travellers complained of long waiting hours and cancelled flights.
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport saw nearly 98 flights cancelled as airlines pulled services over safety fears.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh airport authorities confirmed disruptions in air traffic management. On Saturday, only one Dubai-bound departure was cancelled, but on Sunday, both arrival and departure flights to Dubai have been affected.
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport(TIA) also saw a significant impact, with 17 arrival flights and as many departure flights cancelled, leaving many passengers stranded.
In Nepal, the effects were similarly severe. More than a dozen scheduled flights between Nepal and Gulf cities were cancelled on Saturday.
The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Authority under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) reported that 14 flights departing from Kathmandu to West Asian destinations, as well as arrivals from those cities, were cancelled.
Airlines affected included Nepal Airlines, Himalaya Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, and Kuwait Airways. Himalaya Airlines cancelled six flights – the highest among carriers.
The widespread cancellations left many passengers stranded, creating overcrowding in terminals as travellers awaited further updates. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and advise passengers to check flight schedules before heading to airports.
Agencies