Chennai — Tourists and international travellers at Chennai International Airport are facing significant disruption and uncertainty as escalating Middle East tensions and Gulf airspace closures have led to widespread flight cancellations. On Monday, at least 30 flights to and from destinations including Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Bahrain were cancelled, affecting arrivals and departures and leaving thousands of foreign visitors and transit passengers stranded with disrupted itineraries as airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Air India, IndiGo, and Air Arabia suspended operations amid safety concerns.
With connecting flights through Gulf hubs grounded, many travellers have been forced to seek alternative routes via Africa — at significantly higher costs — or delay their plans indefinitely, according to local tour operators who likened the situation to past travel chaos seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visas, accommodations, and onward travel arrangements have been thrown into disarray as international skies remain unstable.
Authorities continue to monitor the evolving scenario, with limited flights gradually resuming from certain hubs even as the broader conflict and airspace restrictions persist, complicating efforts to bring stranded tourists home or onward to other destinations, news as reported.
