Several flights operated by Indian airlines were canceled last Monday and Tuesday after the Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in the Afar region of Ethiopia, erupted on November 23, 2026.
The eruption of Hayli Gubbi spewed a plume of volcanic ash that crossed the Red Sea and reached Delhi, India. In an unprecedented move, the Indian Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of a large portion of Indian airspace for 48 hours.
The airlines most affected by this event were Air India and Akasa Air, which had to cancel around twenty flights from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Airline operators were able to repatriate grounded aircraft and reorganize their schedules. They advised their passengers to check their flight information before traveling to their airport, including in areas not directly affected by the ash cloud.
Flight canceled due to a volcanic eruption: What are passengers’ rights?
Airlines are required to refund tickets for canceled flights or offer passengers a flight at a later date. Passengers have the right to refuse this offer, which entitles them to a refund, possibly in the form of a voucher.