Over 800 Bengal passengers stranded at Middle East airports

As the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, international flight operators have extended the suspension of services through the region and issued advisories to passengers.

However, several thousand Indians remain stranded at various airports across the Gulf since 28 February. Many are now likely to miss the Holi and Dol Jatra festivals this year due to ongoing disruptions in flight operations.

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On 28 February, Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu convened a meeting with key stakeholders to address the safety of stranded Indian passengers at multiple airports following the suspension of international flights after the attack on Iran. The high-level meeting, held with officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), reviewed operational preparedness and response measures.

It has been decided that no repatriation flights will be operated until the volatile airspace situation in the Middle East de-escalates.

Around 800 passengers from Kolkata and eastern India are currently stranded at Dubai International Airport, Hamad International Airport in Doha, and airports in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and are anxiously awaiting their return to Kolkata, according to Anil Punjabi of the Travel Agents Federation of India.

IndiGo, Air India and STIC Travel Group, which represents several foreign airlines, have already issued travel advisories.

“In view of the continuing situation in the Middle East, Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until 23:59 hrs IST on 2 March 2026,” the airline said in an advisory.

At Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, around 20 international flights have already been cancelled. Passengers travelling from the United States and Europe remain stranded at various transit airports in the Middle East.