Thousands of travelers have been stranded across the United Arab Emirates since February 28, after a widespread airspace closure was announced in the region. Due to growing geopolitical tensions due to the war between Iran, the United States and Israel, many Gulf countries and those associated with their airlines were forced to cancel and reschedule flights, forcing many tourists to seek shelter in the country.
As the situation stabilizes, airlines are slowly resuming flights to limited destinations, helping people finally reach their homes and safety. Air travel between the UAE and India has also resumed, with major airlines such as IndiGo and Air India announcing flight schedules.
Widespread flight cancellations hit India as Iran war disrupts West Asian airspace
Air India and Air India Express announced in a statement on Saturday that they will operate 32 non-scheduled flights between India and the UAE on March 9 to bring stranded passengers home.
Air India resumes flights from major Gulf destinations
The flights will operate subject to availability of slots and prevailing conditions, the airline group said, adding that necessary permissions have been arranged from Indian and local aviation authorities. Below are the main sites included in the plan:
- Air India will operate 10 non-scheduled flights to and from Dubai, including three round trips from Mumbai and two flights from Delhi.
- Air India Express will operate one round trip flight between Dubai, Mumbai and Bengaluru as well as special services to other UAE airports.
These include one round trip between:
- Abu Dhabi to Bengaluru and Mumbai
- Sharjah to Bengaluru, Mumbai
- Ras Al Khaimah to Bengaluru, Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai, while Mumbai operates two return flights to Ras Al Khaimah.
These flights are aimed at travelers whose travel plans have been disrupted by cancellations across the region.
In addition, on March 9, the airline will operate 10 flights to and from Jeddah and Muscat, where airspace remains open. Air India Express will also operate 14 flights to and from Muscat, including services from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, as well as two round-trip flights from Kochi.
Some operations remain cancelled
Despite the expanded operations, the Air India group said scheduled flights to several other destinations in the Middle East including Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait and Riyadh remain canceled until March 13.
Passengers booked on these routes can rebook for a future date at no additional charge or opt for a full refund. AIX has allowed passengers with canceled bookings to rebook their tickets from any airport in the UAE to any destination in India without additional charges. Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight status on the airline’s website before heading to the airport and ensure their contact details are updated to receive timely travel notifications.
European routes are also being resumed
Air India on Sunday announced that it will deploy 78 additional flights to five destinations across the US and Europe due to high demand amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Between 10 and 18 March, the airline group will operate additional flights to five major gateways in Europe besides New York (JFK) over the next few days, along with services to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Flights will be operated on the following lines:
“Despite the difficulties, Air India continues to maintain its scheduled services to Europe and North America, while maintaining connectivity to several international gateways using alternative routes that have been assessed as safe for operations,” said Nipun Agarwal, Chief Commercial Officer.
A regional aviation crisis due to the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel
Military strikes and retaliatory measures between Iran and its adversaries have led to the temporary closure of airspace in several Middle Eastern countries, with airspace operations restricted in some of them. Many passengers had to return home after arriving at the airport, while flights were diverted to other destinations. Those in the UAE for travel or work were forced to quickly find shelter in hotels and apartments in the hope of extending their confinement amid the escalating crisis.
Major airlines across countries including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Air India, IndiGo and others have temporarily suspended operations while issuing travel warnings.
They also allowed stranded passengers to cancel their flights for free along with rescheduling flights to help them in times of stress and anxiety.
The gradual journey back to normal
Gradually, the airspace began to expand with airlines in the Middle East and those in India slowly resuming their services. Major Gulf airlines such as Etihad, Qatar Airways and Emirates have organized limited flights to India and other destinations while closely monitoring the safety of the situation. Likewise, Indian airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have restored connectivity for stranded travelers in the Gulf regions.