Passengers were left stranded on Sunday after several international flight services were disrupted following the escalating conflict in West Asia, airport authorities said.
At least 18 international flights operating between Chennai and various Gulf destinations were cancelled, according to sources at the Chennai International Airport. The cancellations caused inconvenience to travellers scheduled to depart for and arrive from key West Asian cities.
The airport issued an advisory urging passengers travelling to overseas destinations, particularly through West Asian transit hubs, to check with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport.
Among the airlines that cancelled services were Emirates, Etihad Airways, IndiGo and Gulf Air, among others.
Meanwhile, Tiruchirappalli International Airport also issued an advisory stating that the Air India Express flight operating on the Dubai–Tiruchirappalli sector on Sunday had been cancelled. Passengers were advised to confirm flight status with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The disruptions follow a sharp escalation in tensions after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Saturday. Iran reportedly retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, triggering widespread airspace restrictions and flight cancellations across the region.