18 arrivals, 16 departures cancelled at Bengaluru Airport due to airspace restrictions

Bengaluru

A total of 34 flights were cancelled at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Wednesday due to airspace restrictions affecting several international sectors, airport authorities said.

According to officials, 18 arriving flights and 16 departing flights scheduled until 11:59 pm on March 4 were cancelled as a result of the restrictions imposed on certain air routes.

The disruption has primarily affected flights operating between Bengaluru and major cities in the Gulf region, including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai and Doha. These sectors account for a significant portion of the airport’s international passenger traffic, particularly among business travellers and expatriate workers.

Airport sources said airlines were forced to cancel services after the airspace curbs made it operationally difficult to run the flights as scheduled. Passengers booked on the affected flights were informed in advance, and airlines have been assisting them with rebooking options or refunds.

While the cancellations have impacted travel plans for several passengers, airport operations for other domestic and international routes continued normally.

Officials are monitoring the situation and said flight schedules could be adjusted depending on how long the airspace restrictions remain in place.

Kempegowda International Airport, one of India’s busiest airports, handles hundreds of domestic and international flights daily, with the Middle East remaining one of its most important international travel corridors.