India Plans 58 Special Flights From Gulf As Airspace Restrictions Persist

Indian carriers will operate 58 flights on Wednesday to repatriate passengers stranded in the Gulf region, as much of the Middle East airspace remains closed or restricted amid escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the planned operations include 30 flights by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express.

Foreign carriers operating between India and Gulf destinations will also undertake limited services, subject to operational and airspace conditions.

Airlines have made calibrated schedule adjustments, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights progressively resuming via alternative routes that avoid restricted airspace.

In addition to Air India and IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air are operating special services from Gulf cities such as Dubai and Fujairah.

The flights will arrive at major Indian airports, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.

Authorities have urged passengers not to proceed to Dubai International Airport or Al Maktoum International Airport unless contacted directly by their airline with confirmed departure details.

Dubai’s airspace remains partially open, with limited commercial flights permitted.

Emirates and IndiGo are operating select services and providing regular updates.

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways said scheduled departures from Abu Dhabi remain cancelled, with operations suspended until 2 PM local time on 5 March.

However, certain repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with the UAE authorities.

The Civil Aviation Ministry emphasised that passenger safety remains paramount.

The Ministry has directed airlines to maintain transparent communication and comply with regulations on refunds, rescheduling and passenger assistance.

The Ministry is also closely monitoring airfares to prevent any undue surge in ticket prices during the ongoing disruption, ensuring relief for affected travellers.

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