In a significant development for international travel, India’s leading airlines are tentatively resuming operations to key Middle Eastern hubs despite lingering risks from the US-Israel-Iran conflict. IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet kicked off limited flights on Friday, offering hope to passengers stranded by widespread cancellations.
IndiGo leads the pack with 17 flights spanning 34 sectors to eight destinations, working closely with regulators for safe scaling. Reports confirm Saudi Arabia and Oman’s airspaces are accessible, prompting Air India to revive Jeddah and Muscat connections via its express arm.
SpiceJet’s special UAE-India flights on March 6-8 aim to ease repatriation. IndiGo urges booked passengers to stay put until contacted, avoiding airport rushes.
Air India eyes repatriation runs from UAE cities like Dubai on March 6, subject to clearances, while holding other West Asia services till March 10. Flexible rescheduling without penalties applies to recent bookings.
Airport traffic is rebounding: Dubai saw flights double yesterday, hitting 25% of usual volume. The period from late February saw over 44,000 planned flights, 25,000+ axed amid chaos.
Government bodies like DGCA and the Aviation Ministry are on high alert, manning helpdesks and watching ticket prices. This phased resumption signals a path toward normalcy, though full recovery hinges on de-escalation in the volatile region.