India, UAE, and Nepal Experience Travel Disruptions as SpiceJet and FlyDubai Cancel Over Ten Flights Affecting Passengers Across Dubai, Pune, Chennai, Kathmandu, and More: Latest Updates
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Travel
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3 mins
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Travel and Tour World
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Paromita Ghosh
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Flight cancellations in India, UAE, and Nepal disrupt key routes, affecting major cities, tourism, and thousands of passengers.
A large number of flights connecting India, the United Arab Emirates, and Nepal were canceled by SpiceJet (SEJ) and FlyDubai (FDB) on Tuesday September 16, 2025, creating travel chaos for passengers and disrupting key travel corridors. The cancellations affected multiple cities, including Dubai, Pune, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kathmandu, and Shivamogga. These destinations are not only major business hubs but also carry strong tourism value. Dubai serves as a gateway for leisure and shopping travelers, while Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad are linked with both technology and cultural tourism. Delhi and Kolkata attract large numbers of international visitors for heritage travel, and Kathmandu is central to Nepal’s trekking and adventure tourism industry.
With flights grounded, tourists heading for holidays, business conferences, and family visits faced uncertainty. Travel agents warned that the cancellations could discourage bookings in the coming weeks, while hoteliers in affected cities expressed concern about a sudden fall in expected guest arrivals. The disruption has highlighted how dependent regional tourism and trade are on smooth air connectivity.
Key Affected Cities and Airports
The cancellations impacted some of the busiest airports in the region. Dubai International Airport (DXB) saw several outbound and inbound flights canceled, while Pune’s Lohegaon Air Force Base (PNQ) lost direct connectivity to Dubai and several domestic cities. Chennai International (MAA), Rajiv Gandhi International in Hyderabad (HYD), and Indira Gandhi International in Delhi (DEL) were also affected. Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu saw its direct link with Dubai disrupted.
The impact spread across both domestic and international routes, hitting travelers moving between India’s metro hubs and smaller cities such as Shivamogga (VOSH).
Cause of Cancellation
Officials said the cancellations were triggered by operational disruptions, including crew shortages and technical issues. Unfavorable scheduling overlaps worsened the situation. Both Indian and UAE-based carriers were forced to ground services. Aviation experts noted that cascading effects in flight rotations caused further cancellations through the day.
Cancelled Flights by SpiceJet (SEJ)
| Flight No. | Aircraft | From | To | Scheduled Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEJ52 | B738 | Dubai (DXB) | Pune (PNQ) | Tue 00:15 +04 |
| SEJ2970 | DH8D | Pune (PNQ) | Chennai (MAA) | Tue 02:15 IST |
| SEJ2019 | DHC4 | Chennai (MAA) | Hyderabad (HYD) | Tue 06:10 IST |
| SEJ185 | B739 | Kolkata (CCU) | Delhi (DEL) | Tue 06:20 IST |
| SEJ185 | B739 | Delhi (DEL) | Pune (PNQ) | Tue 09:30 IST |
| SEJ2703 | DHC4 | Hyderabad (HYD) | Shivamogga (RQY) | Tue 10:00 IST |
| SEJ2704 | DHC4 | Shivamogga (RQY) | Chennai (MAA) | Tue 11:55 IST |
| SEJ914 | B739 | Pune (PNQ) | Delhi (DEL) | Tue 12:10 IST |
| SEJ2710 | DHC4 | Chennai (MAA) | Shivamogga (RQY) | Tue 14:35 IST |
| SEJ2711 | DHC4 | Shivamogga (RQY) | Hyderabad (HYD) | Tue 16:50 IST |
| SEJ51 | B738 | Pune (PNQ) | Dubai (DXB) | Tue 21:00 IST |
Cancelled Flights by FlyDubai (FDB)
| Flight No. | Aircraft | From | To | Scheduled Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDB575 | B38M | Dubai (DXB) | Kathmandu (KTM) | Tue 12:35 +04 |
| FDB576 | B38M | Kathmandu (KTM) | Dubai (DXB) | Tue 19:35 +0545 |
Impact on Passengers
Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports overnight. Those traveling for work, family visits, or medical reasons were left scrambling for alternatives. Travelers connecting from international flights missed their onward journeys. Some passengers were offered refunds or rebooking, but many faced delays of more than 12 hours.
For Indian domestic travelers, the cancellations caused long queues at airline counters. In Dubai, holidaymakers heading to India were left uncertain about return schedules. In Nepal, the disruption cut off vital business and tourism links with the Gulf.
Impact on Tourism and Economy
Tourism boards expressed concern over the disruption. Dubai, which relies heavily on Indian and Nepali visitors, could see a temporary dip in arrivals. In India, cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai depend on frequent connections for both business and leisure travel. Nepal’s tourism industry, still recovering from past downturns, faced another setback as direct connections to Dubai were halted.
Economists noted that repeated cancellations could dent passenger confidence, forcing many to reconsider air travel during the busy season.
Overview of the Situation
The cancellations by SpiceJet and FlyDubai highlighted the fragile nature of regional aviation. Even a small disruption in crew or aircraft availability created a chain reaction across multiple routes. Airlines said efforts were underway to restore services by the following day. Authorities urged passengers to check with airlines before heading to airports.
The cancellations serve as a reminder of the heavy reliance on key hubs like Dubai, Delhi, and Chennai. Any disruption at these points creates ripple effects across smaller airports and regional cities.
Source: Flight Aware
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