Middle-East Crisis Grounds 175 Flights at India’s Busiest Hubs
Air India Offers Free Re-booking and Full Refunds as West-Asia Turmoil Drags On
SpiceJet Launches 14 Special UAE–India Flights to Repatriate Stranded Nationals
Latest News
Australia Doubles Post-Study Work Visa Fee; Indian Graduates Face INR 3 Lakh Bill
Australia raised the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa fee to AUD 4,600 from 1 March—doubling the cost to about INR 3 lakh. The sudden increase hits Indian students disproportionately and may prompt universities and employers to revisit mobility budgets and destination choices.
UK Overhauls Immigration Rules: ‘Visa Brake’ and Tougher Salary Checks Could Squeeze Indian Skilled Workers
The UK’s latest Immigration Rules update, published 6 March, introduces a ‘Visa Brake’ for rapid policy shifts, demands that Skilled Workers hit salary thresholds in every pay period, and broadens mandatory refusal grounds. Indian employers and assignees will need stricter payroll compliance and should prepare for potentially faster rule changes.
India Warns of 350-Plus Flight Cancellations as West Asian Airspace Closes
MoCA said 350 Indian flights were grounded on 1 March 2026 after Gulf airspaces shut over the Iran-Israel flare-up. Major carriers cancelled or rerouted westbound services, stranding thousands and pushing fares sharply higher. Corporates should build contingency travel plans and expect insurance exclusions.
DGCA Issues High-Risk Airspace Alert; Indian Carriers Reroute and Waive Fees
India’s aviation regulator has designated 11 West-Asian flight-information regions as high-risk and ordered carriers to steer clear unless risk-mitigated. Indian airlines have suspended multiple Gulf routes, rerouted long-haul services and announced blanket change-fee waivers to protect passengers and corporate travel budgets.
Mumbai Airport Cancels 57 Flights, Closes to Diversions as Stands Fill Up
Mumbai’s primary airport cancelled 57 flights and temporarily barred all diversions on 1 March after stands filled with aircraft rerouted around West-Asian airspace closures. Fare spikes and long rebooking queues followed, highlighting infrastructure pinch-points that affect business mobility.
Embassy of India in Doha Suspends Walk-In Consular Services, Activates 24×7 Helpline
Citing security concerns, the Indian Embassy in Doha has closed its regular consular counters for 1 March, offering only emergency support and a 24-hour helpline. Indian residents and companies in Qatar should expect delays in routine passport or visa processing and plan accordingly.
Qatar Airways Suspends Operations as National Airspace Remains Closed
Qatar Airways has grounded its global network until Qatari regulators reopen national airspace. The move strands thousands of India-bound and India-origin passengers and could disrupt cargo flows. Ticket holders are eligible for free rebooking or refunds.
India Promises Bangladesh a Full Restoration of Visa Services After 18-Month Slowdown
After an 18-month security-related cutback, India says it will gradually restore full visa-issuing capacity in Bangladesh. The decision is expected to ease business travel, medical tourism and student mobility between the neighbours.
India Offers Visa Extensions for Stranded Foreigners; Airlines Publish Waiver Lists
India has authorised FRROs to grant hassle-free visa extensions for foreigners whose departures have been thwarted by Middle-East airspace closures. Simultaneously, Indian carriers have issued broad change-fee waivers and published updated cancellation lists.