Flights To Dubai Cancelled: IndiGo’s Urgent Travel Advisory As Airports In Dubai Suspend Landing Permission

Last Updated:March 16, 2026, 23:03 IST

Dubai International Airport halted landing permissions after a fuel tank fire near the airport, forcing airlines to divert and cancel flights.

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Flights To Dubai Cancelled: DXB Suspends Landing Permissions, Airlines Issue Urgent Travel Advisory

Dubai, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs and a favourite destination for Indian travellers, witnessed major aviation disruptions at the start of the week after authorities suspended landing permissions for foreign airlines at the city’s main airports.

The decision, which applies to both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), was communicated to international operators through an official notice titled “Suspension of landing permission at the DXB/DWC airport(s) in the Emirate of Dubai.” The directive stated that the move was taken due to the “prevailing situation within the region” and prioritised the safety of passengers, airline crew and airport staff.

According to the communication sent to airlines, landing permissions for aircraft operating into Dubai have been suspended until further notice, with authorities promising further updates once the situation stabilises.

Drone Attack Triggers Flight Disruptions

The suspension came after a fire broke out in a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport earlier in the day following a reported drone attack. The incident forced aviation authorities to immediately halt several operations at the airport.

Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 reported that multiple flights approaching Dubai were either placed on hold or diverted. Aircraft that were already close to DXB were rerouted to Dubai World Central (DWC) (the city’s secondary airport) while others were redirected to alternative airports across the region. Several flights even turned back to their origin cities.

Among those affected were Emirates flights departing from Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram, which had to return mid-journey due to the disruption.

Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights

Following the landing suspension, several airlines, including Indian carriers, cancelled scheduled flights to Dubai. Budget airline IndiGo confirmed the development on social media, advising passengers to monitor their flight status.

The airline posted:

“As per the latest update issued by Dubai Airport authorities, landing permissions for aircraft operating into DXB have been suspended until further notice in view of the prevailing situation in the region.”

Passengers travelling to and from Dubai were urged to check flight updates online before heading to the airport, as airlines continue to monitor developments in the region.

Dubai: A Critical Hub For Indian Travellers

The disruption is particularly significant for Indian aviation, as Dubai remains the single largest international destination for Indian airlines and travellers. Multiple daily flights connect Indian cities to the emirate, making it one of the busiest international routes for carriers operating out of India. With landing permissions currently suspended, it remains uncertain when regular flight services between India and Dubai will resume.

Passenger Numbers Drop As Travellers Avoid The Region

Even before the latest disruption, airlines had begun noticing a sharp drop in passenger demand for Dubai routes. Internal aviation data reviewed by Bloomberg suggests that flights arriving in Dubai have been operating with unusually low passenger loads as travellers avoid the Persian Gulf region amid ongoing tensions.

The impact has been especially visible on long-haul routes from Europe and the United States. Some inbound flights from Prague and Budapest were reportedly operating at just 5–10 per cent capacity, while flights arriving from New York carried only about 20 per cent of their typical passenger load.

In one extreme case, an Airbus A380 — an aircraft that normally seats nearly 500 passengers — landed in Dubai with fewer than 35 passengers on board. Flights from Chicago have also been operating with large numbers of empty seats.

What Travellers Should Do Now

With the suspension still in place, travellers planning trips to Dubai are advised to regularly check airline websites and official airport updates for the latest information. Airlines have also urged passengers to avoid heading to the airport without confirming the status of their flights.

For now, the timeline for the resumption of normal flight operations into Dubai remains unclear as authorities continue to assess the regional situation.