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If your flight has been delayed or cancelled due to the escalation of conflict between US, Israel and Iran, here’s what you can do as a passenger
Iran–Israel War News: Flight Cancelled Or Delayed? Here’s What You Can Do
The escalating Iran–Israel conflict has turned Middle East skies into a patchwork of closed and rerouted airspace, with airlines cancelling or suspending routes to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Baghdad, Dubai and beyond. For travellers, the immediate question is no longer just “Will my flight leave?” but “If it doesn’t, what are my rights, and how can I protect myself financially?” Using rules from India’s DGCA and global airline practices, here’s what you can do if your flight is delayed or cancelled amid the crisis.
When Your Flight Is Cancelled
Under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), if your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you three paths: an alternate flight on the next available schedule, a full ticket refund, or travel vouchers as per its policy. For passengers who show up at the airport for the original flight, carriers are also required to provide meals and refreshments while they wait for the revised arrangement.
If you’re on a connecting itinerary (for example, New Delhi–Dubai–Tel Aviv or Mumbai–Doha–Tehran), the airline must still honour the onward leg via an alternative hub or reschedule, even if the initial segment is disrupted by Iran–Israel–related airspace closures. In practice, this often means being rerouted via Europe or Asia, but if you don’t want to wait days for a new date, you can insist on a refund under DGCA rules.
Pay attention to whether the cancellation is coded as “extraordinary circumstances” (war, airspace closure, security risk). While airlines may claim this limits compensation, DGCA mandates at least a refund or rebooking, plus care (meals, refreshments) regardless of the reason.
When Your Flight Is Delayed
For delays, airlines must provide meals and refreshments, propose an alternate flight, or allow a full ticket refund. If the delay stretches beyond a few hours—especially beyond the “reasonable” window stipulated by the airline’s own policy—many carriers also offer hotel accommodation and transfers at their expense, particularly for overnight delays.
In the context of the Iran–Israel crisis, delays often arise from rerouting long‑haul flights around closed airspace over Iraq, Iran and parts of the Gulf, adding several hours to journey times. If your flight is now expected to reach its destination more than one day later than originally scheduled, you can request a refund plus a reasonable alternative, instead of waiting for an over‑night‑delay‑heavy reroute.
Indian flyers should also check whether their ticket is fully flexible or non‑refundable; even non‑refundable fares can be refunded in case of cancellations, but normal change fees may apply if you voluntarily alter dates.
Overbooking And “Bump” Situations
If your flight is overbooked, airlines must first ask for volunteers willing to give up their seats, often with cash or vouchers as incentive. If no one volunteers, the airline must place affected passengers on an alternative flight within about an hour of the original departure time.
If the replacement flight is offered more than 24 hours later than the original schedule, DGCA rules entitle passengers to compensation of up to 400% of the one‑way fare plus fuel charges, capped at ₹20,000. This is especially relevant when conflict‑driven reroutes severely compress flight‑slot availability, increasing the risk of overbooking on alternative routes.
What you can do right now
Check your airline’s policy and flight status
Look up your flight number on the carrier’s website or app.
Note whether the disruption is coded as “cancellation,” “significant delay,” or “schedule change.”
Ask for concrete options
If cancelled: request either a refund, rebooking on the next available flight, or a voucher (being clear you understand the refund is your right).
If delayed: ask for meals, refreshments and, if applicable, hotel accommodation plus transfers.
Document everything
Save screenshots of the original itinerary, new schedule, and any communication with the airline.
Keep receipts for food, transport and hotel costs not covered; you may be able to claim partial reimbursement under DGCA’s “reasonable expenses” expectations.
Consider insurance and third‑party bookings
If your ticket was booked via an OTA (online travel agency), report the issue to both the OTA and the airline.
If you have travel insurance that covers “war or civil unrest,” check whether Iran–Israel‑related airspace closures are covered and whether you can claim for missed events, hotel nights, or extra flights.
Evaluate your broader plan
If your destination is Tel Aviv, Tehran, Baghdad or a nearby Gulf hub, consider whether you want to travel at all during the acute phase of the crisis.
Those with flexible dates can often switch to an alternative route (e.g., Europe–Asia via Central Asia or further west) that avoids the most volatile corridors.
February 28, 2026, 19:33 IST
