Denpasar. Escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have disrupted international air travel to and from Bali, forcing the cancellation of 15 flights at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as airspace closures ripple across parts of the Gulf region.

Airport authorities said the cancellations stem from temporary airspace closures in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Iran, affecting routes linking Bali with the Middle East.

As of 1 p.m. Central Indonesia Time on Monday, eight departures and seven arrivals had been canceled since Feb. 28, according to Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, head of communication and legal at the Bali airport operator.

Affected outbound flights include services operated by Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways on routes connecting Denpasar with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha. Several scheduled departures over the weekend and into early Monday were called off, alongside inbound flights from the same cities.

Airport data show that at least 3,197 departing passengers have been affected. There is no confirmed figure yet for the impacted arriving passengers.

Despite the disruptions, airport management said overall operations remain normal. Coordination has been intensified with AirNav Indonesia, airlines, and other stakeholders to monitor developments and adjust flight schedules.

Ngurah Rai Immigration Office head Bugie Kurniawan said authorities are closely tracking the situation while ensuring immigration services continue without interruption.

“We continue to closely monitor these global dynamics. Our priority is to ensure that immigration procedures remain properly served, even amid flight disruptions,” he said.

Immigration officials are also anticipating possible overstays by foreign nationals unable to leave Indonesia due to canceled flights. Travelers whose permits are nearing expiration have been urged to report to immigration offices or airport service counters for assistance. Authorities said such cases would be handled under prevailing regulations, taking force majeure circumstances into account.

To manage the impact, additional personnel have been deployed at international terminals, and real-time monitoring systems and contingency plans have been activated to regulate passenger flow. The airport has set up a help desk on the second floor of the international departure terminal and is providing updates through its contact center.

Airport management has also allocated parking stands for five aircraft from three affected airlines to anticipate operational adjustments.

The disruptions highlight how quickly geopolitical tensions in the Middle East can reverberate across global aviation networks, affecting tourism-dependent destinations such as Bali.

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