Middle East Airspace Closure Cancels 64 Flights at Ngurah Rai International Airport

Ramadan discussions and geopolitics dynamics shaped the report. The temporary closure of airspace in several Middle East countries has led to 64 international flight cancellations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, with more than 8,000 passengers unable to travel due to the airspace closure. “In relation to the closure of airspace in several countries, we inform that up to Friday, 6 March 2026 there were a total of 64 international flight schedules (34 departures and 30 arrivals) that experienced flight cancellations,” said Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, Head of Communication and Legal Division PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (AP I) Bandara Ngurah Rai Bali, on Friday (6/3). Of these, affected carriers include Qatar Airways on the Doha–Denpasar/Denpasar–Doha route, Emirates on the Dubai–Denpasar/Denpasar–Dubai route, and Etihad on the Abu Dhabi–Denpasar/Denpasar–Abu Dhabi route. Emirates has redeployed one aircraft that had remained overnight (RON) at Ngurah Rai since 28 February. The flight was EK369, which departed to Dubai on 5 March at 00:42 WITA using an Airbus A380. This flight marked Emirates’ first Denpasar–Dubai service since Dubai International Airport gradually resumed operations. By Friday 6 March afternoon, Ngurah Rai welcomed Emirates arrivals EK368 from Dubai, with the A380 landing in Bali at 16:30 WITA. “We continue to coordinate intensively with the affected airlines to monitor current operational conditions. Flight operations and airport services at Ngurah Rai International Airport generally continue to run normally and optimally,” he said. PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports) management, which operates Ngurah Rai, continues to monitor Middle East airspace and maintains coordination with relevant authorities, especially with airlines for updated flight schedules and assisting passengers at the airport. They also work with AirNav Indonesia to monitor affected airspace and with security agencies to anticipate security situations at the airport. Based on airline data, the number of prospective passengers affected by schedule adjustments from 28 February to 6 March totalled 8,187 for departing passengers. For 6 March specifically, the number of affected passengers was 334. Handling of all such passengers has been implemented in accordance with each airline’s policy. Ngurah Rai International Airport has also anticipated parking stand arrangements for aircraft from flights affected by the airspace closure in the Middle East, allocating stands for 4 aircraft from 3 affected airlines. The airport also provides a dedicated airline help desk area and coordinates with the Immigration Office to provide immigration counter services for Emergency Stay Permits (ITKT) for affected passengers. This flight represents Emirates’ first Denpasar–Dubai service since the airspace closure and the Middle East conflict between the United States–Israel and Iran. The Iran conflict’s impact continues to widen and influence international air connectivity. The closure of air routes in the Middle East has significantly affected international flight schedules at Ngurah Rai. Escalation of the Middle East conflict is beginning to impact Bali’s international air connectivity. The operational conditions at Ngurah Rai International Airport are facing serious challenges in early March 2026. The Deputy Chairperson of the DPR RI Commission VII, Evita Nursanty, urged the government to tighten oversight on safety, service reliability, and passenger protection. More than 3,400 flights have been canceled and 300,000 passengers stranded due to the Iran–US–Israel conflict and Middle East airspace closures. Check the latest situation at Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi airports. Surveillance at Ngurah Rai Bali is being tightened following the cancellation of five flights to several Middle East countries due to the escalation of the US–Israel–Iran conflict.